Florian Wellbrock won the second gold medal at the swimming World Cup in Singapore.
The 27-year-old crowned himself in the race over five kilometers to the world champion. On Wednesday he had already won gold over twice the distance.
“With the high heat here, a day of regeneration was a little bit. But all athletes still had the same problem. It was incredibly happy that it worked out at the back. I saw how the boys tried to attack, but luckily I was still able to go onerest“, he said.
“So does it Competitive swimming Fun”
Wellbrock prevailed over the 10 kilometers in front of silver winner Gregorio Paltrinieri from Italy and the third-placed Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier. For Wellbrock it was the seventh World Cup title in the open water as a whole. The only more successful open -air swimmer at World Championships is Thomas Lurz. The second German starter, Oliver Klemet, could not intervene in the fight for precious metal.
Wellbrock is developing again into the guarantee of success for the German Swimming Association, which he once was. After his messed up Olympic Games last summer in Paris, he found his top form. “This makes competition swimming the most fun when it pays off that you can take part in a award ceremony after the race”said Wellbrock.
“Not giving up was worth it”
The first victory that Wellbrock dominant out caused great satisfaction. “You are pleased that it was not worth it.“, said Wellbrock, who even thought about a career end after the Olympics. National coach Bernd Berkhahn, who trained Wellbrock in Magdeburg and led back to old strength, was relieved. “All favorites were here. He won gold on the Olympic distance. That is almost synonymous with gold at the Olympic Games”he said. Even the Italian coach congratulated.
With his second victory in the second race in the sea on the Palawan Beach, Wellbrock underlined his extra class in open water. He achieved the feat of getting over five and ten kilometers of gold at World Championships for the second time after 2023.
Again difficult World Cup conditions in Singapore
With more than 30 degrees Celsius water temperature again and even greater heat outside swam Wellbrock in the top group from the start. For a long time he stayed in second position, then went forward and could not be obtained.
Rieder in fifth place among women
The women had started before Wellbrock’s races. The Australian Moesha Johnson, who also trains in Magdeburg, also secured her second title from Singapore. Celine Rieder swam to fifth place. She was the only German starter. Jeannette Spiwoks could not compete due to health problems. The German Frewasser team is again challenged on Saturday night (CEST). Then the races are in the new Knockout sprint.