Title fights in Rome
Wellbrock omits open water races at swimming EM
Florian Wellbrock will not start at the EM open water races in Rome. photo
© Andreas Gora/dpa
Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock is not participating in the open water races at the European Swimming Championships in Italy after his corona infection and minor health problems.
Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock is not participating in the open water races at the European Swimming Championships in Italy after his corona infection and minor health problems.
“Mentally Florian would be ready, but he has a slight cold and his body needs this break,” said national coach Bernd Berkhahn.
Wellbrock is not yet in top form after his Covid 19 illness in July. On Tuesday, the 24-year-old had no chance in the pool race over 1500 meters freestyle in the fight for the medals and finished fifth. At the World Championships in June and at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, he had won bronze over this distance.
The gold winner at the Olympics in Japan is usually one of the favorites in open water, too. At the World Championships almost two months ago, he had won twice and won bronze once in Lake Lupa in Hungary.
The competitions of the European Championships in the sea off Lido di Ostia were supposed to start this Thursday, but were postponed due to an unfavorable weather forecast with lots of wind and high waves. Now it should start on Friday – without Wellbrock.