For the first time since 1988, a German swimmer has won Olympic gold in the pool. Märtens has impressed the German legends of his sport. Even after his big victory, he has no shortage of goals.
Even deliberately avoiding partying did not help Olympic champion Lukas Märtens to have a peaceful night of gold and a restful sleep. “It lasted two to three hours – almost like a little nap,” said the German swimming hero from Paris and smiled. As if the previous evening had been a completely normal one, the 22-year-old was swimming laps in the La Défense Arena the next day and concentrating on his next Olympic goals. The 22-year-old is also one of the medal candidates in the 200-meter freestyle.
Märtens is a professional athlete through and through, not a party animal. He doesn’t need a big party in the German house, no lavish celebration with champagne or beer. Märtens knows that no one can take away his gigantic success. The Olympic victory is of huge importance for all of German swimming.
Mother can’t look
Before Märtens, the last time a German man won Olympic gold in pool swimming, the country was still divided – and Märtens was not even born yet. Michael Groß and Uwe Daßler (GDR) won in Seoul in 1988. In the women’s event, Britta Steffen was crowned double Olympic champion in 2008. Since then, the German Swimming Association had been waiting for pool gold – until Märtens’ gala appearance.
“It was a sensational performance that I have only seen in other nations in the years that I have been watching the Olympics,” Steffen told the German Press Agency. “Hats off, that was a lifetime sporting achievement.”
Märtens’ mother was also shaking in the stands. She could hardly look, only taking her hands from her face in the last few meters and looking at the pool. “I feel the same as the boy, I can’t believe it. It’s incomprehensible,” she said. Märtens’ ex-girlfriend Isabel Gose caused some moving scenes when she cried with compassionate joy in an ARD interview after her own fifth place. Märtens himself also fought back tears at the awards ceremony and even before that in the water.
Swimming greats rejoiced with Märtens
Franziska van Almsick, who won silver or bronze at the Olympics ten times in her career, was “proud and moved that Lukas Märtens, a swimmer, won the first medal – and a gold one at that – for the German team.” The 46-year-old added: “That was so important for swimming in Germany, but also for German sport. Lukas is an example of how hard work, love of sport and the will to win count.”
In fact, that is exactly what makes Märtens special. He is a hard worker. Swimming is his great passion, and he subordinates almost everything to it. Even health problems do not hold him back. When he had to repeatedly stop training during his Olympic preparations because of chronic sinusitis, he could have despaired. Märtens did not, and remained positive. “When it seems the least likely, you are perhaps the most likely to pull it off,” he said to himself. “The most important thing is to learn from setbacks.”
Impressive development
In recent years, Märtens has gradually risen to become an absolute world-class swimmer. In the pool, the protégé of long-distance national coach Bernd Berkhahn won a medal at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 World Championships. The teammate of open water Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock, who will be competing in the Olympics this Monday, has also continued to develop. Märtens appears cool and self-confident. He has learned to deal with the growing pressure of expectations placed on him.
“From my point of view, his physical abilities and his mental strength come together perfectly and it’s great that no other swimmer in the world can do it like he can,” said Steffen. “I’m fascinated when people can handle pressure, are honest and authentic and that’s the impression I got here.”
No world record? For Märtens “it doesn’t matter”
Paul Biedermann was also enthusiastic about Märtens’ race. “Cool, composed and confident. That probably describes this race best,” he said. Biedermann was also on Märtens’ mind when it came to his gold race – at least his world record.
Märtens actually wanted to challenge the German swimming icon’s record, which had stood for 15 years. The fact that he didn’t manage to do so in 3:41.78 minutes didn’t bother him at all, as he had the gold medal around his neck. “Many people expected this record to fall. I don’t give a damn whether it has fallen or not. I’m at the top and I think I deserve it,” said Märtens. The world record remains a goal for the future and within reach – just like more Olympic medals.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
