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Florian Wellbrock during the 2019 World Cup in South Korea
Photo: François-Xavier MARIT / AFP
With an annual world record over 400 meters freestyle, double world champion Florian Wellbrock sent a signal to the international swimming competition almost 100 days before the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
In the qualifying competition in his hometown Magdeburg, the 23-year-old undercut the Olympic standard on his branch route in 3: 44.35 minutes.
Wellbrock celebrated his two world championship titles in the 1500 meter freestyle and in open water swimming over ten kilometers.
His 19-year-old training colleague Lukas Märtens also stayed 400 meters below the required time.
»That is a nice new personal best, I am also very satisfied with the result in the final.
Having this speed is a good prerequisite for the long distances, ”said Wellbrock, who had already qualified over 1500 and 800 meters as well as for the open water race over ten kilometers.
The 18-year-old Isabel Gose, who won with a personal best of 4: 06.11 minutes, also remained under the Olympic standard for the 400 meter freestyle.
Over 1500 meters, Celine Rieder undercut the Tokyo target in 16: 09.00 minutes.
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