World Cup in Japan
Swimmers start strong: Two German records in Fukuoka
Beat in the lead over 400 meters freestyle after 4: 03.02 minutes: Isabel Gose. photo
© Christophe Gateau/dpa
At the World Championships in Japan, the German pool swimmers show strong performances. In the final in the evening (local time), freestyle specialist Lukas Märtens wants a medal.
With two national records, the German swimmers are strong in the pool competitions of the World Championships in Japan started.
Isabel Gose clocked a time of 4:03.02 in the 400-meter freestyle heat, 19-hundredths of a second faster than her own previous best. Fourth in the heats, the 21-year-old qualified for the final in the evening (local time/from 1 p.m. CEST). “That was really good,” Gose said. “It was important to me to swim a best time again – also for the feeling, for the head.”
Breaststroke swimmer Lucas Matzerath set another German record. The 23-year-old swam the 100-meter distance in 58.74 seconds, beating Fabian Schwingenschlögl’s previous best time from 2021. Matzerath reached the semi-finals as the third fastest.
Märtens qualified for the final, Klemet didn’t
Also medal hopeful Lukas Märtens was satisfied with his start in the title fights in Fukuoka. The 21-year-old qualified in 3:44.42 minutes as fifth in the heats for the final in the evening. His Magdeburg team colleague Oliver Klemet did not succeed. The bronze winner over ten kilometers in open water was eliminated in 21st place.
“I was able to conserve a few more strengths,” said Märtens. Looking ahead to the final, he said: “I wish it would be enough to win a medal. That’s what I wanted to do from the start and I’m going in with that goal.” Regarding the German record set by his girlfriend Gose, last year’s runner-up world champion said: “Great! You don’t do that every day in the run-up either. I’m very happy with us. I think it will be good tonight.”
Angelina Köhler almost managed to set a new national record. The 22-year-old swam the 100-meter butterfly in 57.23 seconds, the third-fastest time in the heats and was just a hundredth of a second slower than her German record in April. “I felt so good swimming. I really flew,” said Koehler. The men’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay was eliminated in the heats.