Märtens Leads Fastest Podium & Top 6 Finish In Olympic History
Lukas Märtens raced through a timewarp in the gap between Wenden and Spitz, then Gaines and Gross, on the way to gold crafted in the courage of a pace no others could match in Paris
The courage of Lukas Märtens and the guidance of coach Bernd Berkhahn in Magdeburg proved a force too far for rivals in the fastest podium the Olympic Games has ever witnessed over 400m freestyle.
It was the first victory in the ultimate pool for a German man in 36 years.
Märtens, 22, took gold ahead of Australian Elijah Winnington, on 3:42.21, and Korea's Kim Woomin, on 3:42.50. The steamroller didn't end there: Sam Short, AUS, 3:42.64; Guilherme Costa, BRA, in an Americas record of 3:42.76; and China's Fei Liwei on his second lifetime best in a day, 3:44.24.
It was not just the swiftest podium but the fastest top 6 all-time in Olympic waters.
