World Cup in Budapest
Olympic victory not enough: Wellbrock wants swimming world record
German swimmer Florian Wellbrock is aiming for a world record. Photo: Oliver Weiken/dpa
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For Florian Wellbrock, an Olympic victory is not enough. He was super happy with the Olympic gold. A dream has come true, said the swimmer from Magdeburg in an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.
For Florian Wellbrock, an Olympic victory is not enough. He was super happy with the Olympic gold. A dream has come true, said the swimmer from Magdeburg in an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.
“But I also thought to myself: Okay, well, that filled me up for a moment, but the hunger came back incredibly quickly. I also find that fascinating about myself, that I can always motivate myself to want to reach for new goals and medals, and I’m never satisfied when I’ve won something,” said the 24-year-old, who will take part in the 2021 Tokyo Open Water Olympics – had won gold over ten kilometers.
Today Wellbrock completes his first start at the World Championships in Budapest. There he competes as the defending champion over 1500 meters in the pool and over ten kilometers in open water. “I’m talking about the mission of defending the title over the ten kilometers and the 1500 meters,” he said.
Wellbrock wants to continue
However, he also has bigger goals. “It’s not difficult for me to keep working and training because I still have a few goals open: a world record on the long track, an Olympic victory on the 50-meter track, and not “just” in open water. These are the things that keep me training at a good level, »explained Wellbrock.
According to his own statement, he is already thinking about winning gold again at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. There are people who said: I’m an Olympic champion, I’ve achieved everything, I’m quitting. “It wasn’t a question for him at all. I immediately thought: How will it be in 2024 if you defend the title at the Olympics? How must it feel to win gold at the Olympics twice? How must a Phelps have felt with seven Olympic victories when I feel so great with one Olympic gold,” Wellbrock said, referring to former US swimming star Micheal Phelps.