Free water World Cup in Singapore: Gold gloss in the heat: Wellbrock celebrates second World Cup title

Florian Wellbrock had to lie down after his second triumphant gold force. Exhausted, the double world champion from Singapore sank to the floating open water platform in the Woiring Sea. “The heat hit quite a bit,” said Wellbrock. “But I was a bit lucky that I wasn’t the only one.”

When he had collected reasonably strength again, the joy of his second victory in the second race on the palm -lined Palawan Beach really came through. “Insanely cool,” said the 27-year-old. Wellbrock posed for winning photos, kissed the gold medal on the podium and stated satisfied: “Singapore is running.” He happily fell into his parents.

Wellbrock: “Fortunately, it was still possible to go on it”

As already over twice the distance on Wednesday, the Bremen native prevailed over five kilometers from Gregorio Paltrinieri and was almost three seconds ahead of his Italian permanent rival. Third finished in the water at more than 30 degrees Celsius and even higher air temperatures in the blazing sun of the Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier.

“With the high heat here, a day of regeneration was a little bit. But all athletes still had the same problem,” said Wellbrock. “I saw how the boys tried to attack, but luckily I was still able to go.”

Wellbrock with national coach Bernd Berkhahn had specially prepared in heat chambers on the tropical conditions. That now pays off. “The human body is simply not made for something like that to be honest. It is important to get the body used to this load,” said Wellbrock. “We have done that very well for the past few weeks and months.”

Only more successfully as a World Cup open water swimmer

For Wellbrock it was the seventh World Cup title in the open water as a whole. The only more successful open -air swimmer at World Championships is Thomas Lurz.

Wellbrock is developing again into the guarantee of success for the German Swimming Association, which he once was. The fact that after his screwed up Olympic Games last summer in Paris, after which he even thought about a career end, he comes back is anything but a matter of course.

“It is just good that the last few months have paid off. “This is always an incredibly great honor, I am very, very grateful for that.”

Wellbrock repeats feature

Berkhahn, who enthusiastically recorded the victory celebration with his cell phone, had already been relieved after Wellbrock’s first success in Singapore. “All favorites were here. He won gold on the Olympic distance. This is almost synonymous with gold at the Olympic Games,” he said after the impressive World Cup start. The Italian coach also congratulated that athlete and trainer “got the curve together. That is fantastic”.

Wellbrock managed the feat of getting over five and ten kilometers of gold at World Championships over five and ten kilometers for the second time after 2023.

He swam in the top group right from the start. At first he stayed in second position and then took the lead well before the finish. Although the forces ended up heavily in the end, Wellbrock could no longer be obtained. The second German starter, Oliver Klemet, was unable to intervene in the fight for precious metal and finished 9th.

Wellbrock is pleased “Fourth gold medal for SC Magdeburg”

The women had started before. The Australian Moesha Johnson, who also trains in Magdeburg, also secured her second title from Singapore. “I am glad that it was the fourth gold medal for SC Magdeburg,” said Wellbrock with a view after his second victory. His training group there is very important to him.

Celine Rieder also swims there. She was the only German starter in the women’s race over five kilometers and finished fifth. Jeannette Spiwoks could not compete due to health problems.

The German Frewasser team is again challenged on Saturday night (CEST). Then the races are in the new Knockout sprint.