Enlarge image
Lukas Märtens: arm stroke for arm stroke towards silver
Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Lukas Märtens won the silver medal in the 400 meter freestyle at the swimming world championships in Budapest.
The 20-year-old clocked in after 3:42.85 minutes and was only beaten by winner Elijah Winnington from Australia.
Brazilian Guilherme Costa won bronze.
“It's indescribable.
I don't even know what to say,' said Märtens.
For Märtens it was by far the greatest success of his career so far and for the German Swimming Association it was a strong start to the World Championships.
On the very first day of competition in the Duna Arena, the DSV was able to celebrate a medal.
Märtens is also the first German swimmer since world record holder Paul Biedermann in Shanghai in 2011 (bronze) to win a medal at the World Championships on this stretch.
The Magdeburg teammate of Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock, with whom he swims in the strong training group of long-distance national coach Bernd Berkhahn, had already drawn attention to himself earlier this year.
Märtens had traveled to the Hungarian capital as the world's best of the year over 400, 800 and 1500 meters.
At the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Märtens swam in front of almost empty ranks due to the corona.
Now, at his World Cup premiere in Budapest, he was impressed by the loud hall and was also a little nervous in the run-up.
However, external circumstances did not affect him negatively – on the contrary.
This Sunday, Märtens jumps into the pool again over 200 meters freestyle.
jan/dpa