World Cup in Singapore
Swimmer Wellbrock wins gold in open water
Updated on July 16, 2025 – 9:24 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Big surprise in Singapore: Florian Wellbrock crowned the world champion in the open water.
Florian Wellbrock won the gold medal in the open water in the swimming world championships in Singapore characterized by discussions about the water quality. The 27-year-old prevailed in a strong race over ten kilometers against Gregorio Paltrinieri from Italy. This is the sixth World Cup title in open water in Wellbrock’s career.
Success should be a very special one for him. After all, Wellbrock now won almost a year after he had experienced great disappointments at the Paris Olympics. Wellbrock was already unexpectedly excreted in the pelvis over 800 and 1500 meters of freestyle and had also missed the hoped -for medal in the open water race.
Doubts and a longer break in competition shaped the time after. Wellbrock even thought about a career end, but then decided against it. Born in Bremen in Magdeburg, the native of Bremen with national coach Bernd Berkhahn prepared for the season highlight in Singapore. There he shone in the first race.
He mastered the difficult conditions on the Palawan Beach best. His race had previously been postponed twice because of poor water quality. In the case of measurements, the limit values defined in the regulations had been exceeded. They should protect the health of the athletes. Now the organizer gave the green light.
At 30.4 degrees Celsius water temperature and even greater heat on land, Wellbrock swam in the top group from the start, most of the time even at the forefront. At the final round, Paltrinieri’s attack also fended off and remained one place.