Wellbrock's Winning Wave Rolls On: Euro 10km Gold Back In The Seine
German ace Florian Wellbrock, who claimed a record four open water world titles in Singapore a year ago, picked up where he left off, with European gold in the 10km today in Paris, with Hungary's David Betlehem and Germany's Oliver Klemet next home
As Open water got underway in Paris at the European Championships today, Florian Wellbrock picked up where her left off in Singapore last year, when he claimed a record four World titles.
He opened his Euros 2026 campaign back in the River Seine with gold in the 10km ahead of two men, one a Germany teammate, who made the Paris Olympics podium without him two years ago: Hungary's David Betlehem, third at Paris 2024, took silver, and Germany's Oliver Klemet, second at Paris 2024, took bronze this time around in Paris.
Two years ago in the same river but on a different day, weather, course and flow-wise, defending champion from Tokyo2020ne, Wellbrock was among contenders until the last loop, where he fell back badly and was left flailing in the wash to finish eighth more than a minute behind winner Kristóf Rasovszky, of Hungary.
Rasovszky finished 23rd today, almost three minutes behind Wellbrock, who claimed gold 2.14sec aheads of Betlehem, Klemet, Wellbrock's training partner at the Magdeburg Performance Centre where Berndt Berkhahn is the head coach.
There were also excellent swims today from Italian ace Gregorio Paltrinieri, a man with one Olympic and three World 1500m free titles in his pantheon atop 61 international distance-freestyle honours for his country, 32 of them golden; his teammate Marcello Guido; and Great Britain's Hector Pardoe, sixth within 25sec of gold.
Wellbrock was locked in a thrilling duel with Betlehem right down to the final few metres of the 10km battle in conditions significantly better than those seen at Paris 2024.
Victory in Paris today took to 15 the number of international titles Wellbrock has in a pantheon of 28 podiums that include Olympic gold and three World titles (2019, 2022, 2026) in the 10km event.
In the past, Wellbrock has balanced open water and pool programs at many major events, but this year, there'll be no action in the pool for him when racing gets underway next Monday.
At Paris 2024, his 8th place in the marathon followed disappointment in the pool: he was eliminated in heats of the 800m and 1500m.
After a difficult season marked by several breaks due to illness, Wellbrock, 28, spoke of a more realistic approach. In Paris, he is also competing in the 5km race, the knockout sprint, and the relay, as is Klemet. As it was at world level before Wellbrock's quad last year, no swimmer has ever won four European golds at one summer European Championships in Open Water before.
Updates with quotes later...
