Swimming World Championship
As a couple at the World Cup: Gose, Märtens and “a bit at home”
Like her boyfriend Lukas Märtens, Isabel Gose is one of the German hopes for a medal at the World Cup. photo
© Gregorio Borgia/AP/dpa
Isabel Gose and Lukas Märtens are among Germany’s greatest hopes at the World Cup. They are required right at the start of the pool race. His coach is not enthusiastic about Märtens’ program.
One of Isabel Gose’s wishes for the start of the World Swimming Championships does not come true. “It’s best when I have my races first. Then I can also allow my nervousness for the other person afterwards,” said the 21-year-old, referring to her boyfriend’s competitions Lukas Martens.
When the pelvic competitions begin at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Märtens is first challenged in the 400-meter freestyle, then it’s Gose’s turn. Alongside Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock, the two are among Germany’s greatest hopes for a medal.
“I’m excited when I swim, I’m excited when Lukas swims and when the others from my training group swim, I’m excited too,” Gose told the German Press Agency. “It’s going to be too much then. I have to learn to keep my focus on myself. I’m getting better and better at it.” At the European Championships in Rome last year, the crawl specialist won gold over 400, silver over 800 and bronze over 200 meters freestyle. In Japan, the first World Cup precious metal is finally here.
Podium chances for Märtens right at the start
“A World Cup medal is a dream. You would be lying if you said otherwise,” said Gose. “I’ll try to do my best and then see how far it takes me.” After the 400-meter competition, she wants to start in the 1500 and 800 meters individually at the Marine Messe Fukuoka. Your friend has even more plans.
Märtens, who, like Gose and open water Olympic champion Wellbrock, trains in Magdeburg with long-distance national coach Bernd Berkhahn, has a really mammoth program. If things were going well for him, he would jump into the pool on seven out of eight competition days. His coach is skeptical. “We had a long discussion and I kept checking and checking if he was sure,” said Berkhahn. “I have a different opinion, but I also accept the wish of the athletes. Ultimately, they have to be responsible for it.” The 52-year-old added: “Lukas can only grow with the tasks.”
Märtens has the best podium chances right at the start over 400 and over 800 meters. He competes in the 400 meters as European Champion and Vice World Champion. Only the Australian Samuel Short was faster than the 21-year-old on this track this year. “There could be another performance explosion here,” said Berkhahn about his athlete.
“Nice to have a piece at home with you”
For his European Championship title in Rome, Märtens was even on course for a world record set by Paul Biedermann. “Of course it would be fantastic if he were to fall through me at some point,” said Märtens about the record of 3:40.07 minutes set in 2009. But the main focus in Fukuoka is on a medal.
He can be sure of the support of his girlfriend on this mission. Because both competitive athletes are in the same sport, they are particularly good at putting themselves in the other person’s shoes. “It’s a special situation that Lukas and I go to the competitions together. It’s nice to always have a piece at home,” said Gose. She describes her life as a traveling couple: “During competitions, we are there for each other when we need it. But we also know when it’s better to leave the other one alone.”