Before the swimming world championships in Budapest: Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock included Ukrainian Michailo Romantschuk in the training group

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Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock also wants to win gold at the swimming world championships in Budapest

Photo: Christian Schroedter / IMAGO

One day before the swimming world championships in Budapest (June 17 to July 3), Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock spoke about his support for his Ukrainian competitor Mikhailo Romanchuk.

Romantschuk, like Wellbrock a freestyle swimmer and long-distance specialist, has been training in Magdeburg for a long time.

"He was in the Ukraine when the war began, and after consulting Bernd Berkhahn (trainer, editor's note), I offered him that we still had capacity in our training group.

His final decision was made when his last training hall with a 50-meter pool was bombed," said the 24-year-old.

According to Wellbrock, Romantschuk often does not notice in everyday life that there is a war in his homeland.

"It varies, and it depends on what's on the news right now," Wellbrock said.

“I admire his mental strength and how well he handles it.

95 percent of the time he doesn't show anything and follows through with his training consistently.« Romantschuk is one of the best freestyle swimmers in the world.

At the Tokyo Olympics, the Ukrainian won bronze in the 800-meter freestyle and silver in the 1500-meter freestyle.

Wellbrock enjoys the increased attention

Wellbrock wants to defend his two world titles in the pool (1500 meters) and open water (10 kilometers) in Budapest.

He is also aiming for 800 meters in the Duna Arena, 5 kilometers in the Lupasee and medals in the relay.

Wellbrock has prepared meticulously and speaks openly of the world championship title.

The times of understatement seem to be over after his coup in Tokyo.

»At my level you go to the poolside and want gold.

I don't need to stand there and have my pants full," Wellbrock told NDR.

As an Olympic champion, he notices that “during the preparation or warm-up, he is being scrutinized more thoroughly by the international competition.

But it doesn't unsettle me.

That is also a kind of recognition that I can enjoy.«

see/dpa/sid