Florian Wellbrock has been the face of German swimming at least since his Olympic victory in Tokyo. That’s why he’s the focus of attention at the World Cup.
Swimming star Florian Wellbrock won his second World Championships medal at the end of the pool competitions in Budapest, but missed out on successfully defending his title. The 24-year-old had to settle for bronze in the top-class 1500m freestyle final after 14:36.94 minutes, more than four seconds behind the new world champion Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy).
“I’m going out very happy with the bronze medal,” said the Magdeburger: “At a world championship, especially in this field, it’s never a matter of course to get on the podium.” Paltrinieri “did it great. I knew that he would start quickly – but I didn’t expect that he would start so quickly.”
Second was the American double Olympic champion Bobby Finke. “Bobby ate me up on the last lane,” said Wellbrock, “that was the first time I swam next to him. That’s incredible!”
Fourth German medal in Budapest
Rio Olympic champion Paltrinieri was on course for a world record right down to the last lane and set a European record of 14:32.80 minutes. Wellbrock’s Magdeburg club colleague Lukas Märtens took fourth place.
Wellbrock, who had won silver in the 800m four days earlier, will still be competing in three open water competitions with a chance of winning in the second week of the World Championships. He won gold in the 10km at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
For the German Swimming Association (DSV) it was the fourth medal in the title fights in Budapest. In addition to Wellbrock, Märtens (400 m freestyle) and Anna Elendt (100 m breaststroke) also won silver.
