Florian Wellbrock did not defend his world title over ten kilometers in open water. The 24-year-old had to settle for third place in Lupa Lake in Budapest despite a long and confident performance in 1:51:11.20 hours.

Florian Wellbrock did not defend his world title over ten kilometers in open water. The 24-year-old had to settle for third place in Lupa Lake in Budapest despite a long and confident performance in 1:51:11.20 hours.

The new world champion was the Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri, who won his second title in Budapest. He had previously become Wellbrock’s successor as world champion in the 1500 meter freestyle. He won ahead of his compatriot Domenico Acerenza. Niklas Frach was seventh.

“The feeling is quite ambivalent. It’s the second title that I wasn’t able to defend, but I’m still very happy with the bronze medal,” said Wellbrock after the race: “I noticed yesterday that it wasn’t easy to regenerate quickly after the constant stress and with a good feeling to start today. That’s why I’m more than satisfied with bronze.”

Fifth medal for Wellbrock

Wellbrock won his fifth medal at his fifth start at the World Championships. After silver in the 800-meter freestyle and bronze in the 1500-meter freestyle in the pool, he won the open water over five kilometers and the 4×1.5-kilometer mixed relay. With five medals, he equalized the previous record result of a German swimmer. Michael Groß also won five medals in Ecuador in 1982, but without exception in the basin.

Leonie Beck had previously won the silver medal over the same distance. After evaluating the finish photo, the Dutchwoman Sharon van Rouwendaal was declared the winner. Olympic champion and five-kilometer world champion Ana Marcela Cunha from Brazil was also there in the dramatic final sprint after 2:02 hours in Lupa Lake and finished third. Lea Boy finished eighth.

“A medal at a world championship is really great. In the end you also need a little bit of luck. But second in this field is really, really good,” said Beck.