Swimming World Championship: Florian Wellbrock wins gold over five kilometers in open water

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Florian Wellbrock in Budapest's Lupa Lake

Photo: Bernadett Szabo / REUTERS

Florian Wellbrock won the gold medal in open water swimming over five kilometers at the World Championships in Budapest.

The 24-year-old prevailed on Monday in the 26.7-degree warm Lupa Lake ahead of his long-time Italian competitor Gregorio Paltrinieri, who had triumphed in the 1,500-meter freestyle in the pool.

Bronze went to Wellbrock's training partner Mykhailo Romanchuk from Ukraine.

Wellbrock struck after 52:48.8 minutes.

His lead over Paltrinieri was 3.9 seconds.

"I think it was very close to a perfect race," Wellbrock said.

For the frequent starter it was already the fourth medal in the fourth competition at the World Championships and the second title.

Born in Bremen, who trains in Magdeburg, he won silver in the 800-meter freestyle and bronze in the 1,500-meter freestyle.

On Sunday he also secured the gold medal for the German open water relay team with a strong final sprint in a chaotic race.

In the five-kilometer race, which the open-water Olympic champion has added to his program compared to the last World Championships, Wellbrock swam in front from the start.

About halfway through, he was leading a five-man lead group.

On the final lap he pulled away with Paltrinieri and won easily.

The second German starter Niklas Frach swam in 13th place.

»I kept the speed at a very high level.

That worked,” Wellbrock said.

"Now it's okay to be a little tired." This Tuesday he has a day off from competition.

Wellbrock wants to defend his world title over the Olympic ten kilometers on Wednesday.

cev/dpa