Lukas Märtens achieved great fame throughout Germany thanks to his gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games. However, the success in Paris also had its downsides, as the 22-year-old revealed in an exclusive RTL interview.
On the evening of July 28th, Lukas Märten’s life would change suddenly and literally in seconds. He swam his way from swimming youngster to becoming the new golden boy. In fact, he hasn’t been in the water that often since then, especially after Paris. A nose job and numerous appointments slowed him down. The man from Magdeburg is also on the move again when talking to “RTL”.
“I still can’t really say what was going on in my head and heart that evening. At the same time, I still think back to the evening often and the honors in particular are of course still something special,” he says.
After Olympic gold: Märtens is looking forward to quieter days
When he thinks about the evening of his triumph, images of the award ceremony come to mind again. “What I remember most is the moment I stand on the podium. I see the flags raised and hear the German national anthem. I couldn’t sing along because all my emotions overwhelmed me at that moment and I was shaking all over . It was an indescribable feeling and these moments will remain in my heart forever.”
At the same time, he admits: “However, I will also be happy when things calm down a little and everyday life returns.”
Because as nice as the numerous honors are, he is fighting to be seen primarily as Lukas again. He says: “From my point of view, I haven’t really changed, but of course people perceive me differently now.”
Märtens: Luckily he didn’t “fall into a hole”
Specifically: “I was recently at the Christmas market. Later a woman wrote to me who didn’t dare to talk to me. I think that’s a shame because I think to myself: I’m still just a normal person and also Lukas, who I was before the games.” At the same time, he slowly wants his everyday training routine back. “It’s an incredible amount that hits you with all the honors – especially as a young person that I am. I shouldn’t forget that none of this would be possible without the hard work and training. That’s why I hope I hope that in the new year the focus will be more on training again.”
Fortunately, he didn’t fall into a hole after the Olympics, but in the past he has sometimes wished for time to take a breather. “I just want to be able to be a human again or the swimmer who previously had time for private things. When you’re constantly appearing in public, that’s difficult. I noticed that again at the Christmas market. You don’t really have a moment of peace . At the same time, I don’t want to feel misunderstood, because people always find great words and of course they are touching.”
He has been working with psychologists for a long time and they are now giving him important strategies for dealing with the situation correctly.
Christmas comes at just the right time with a few contemplative hours. “I think Christmas will be very relaxed – in a small family circle. These are moments in which I can really turn my head off and switch off really well. I can also joke around.”
In the new year he would like to really get started again in the water. On January 5th we’re going to train in South Africa.