Gold coup for Floran Wellbrock?: Team Magdeburg against the rest of the world

The countdown is on for the eagerly awaited final over 1500 meters freestyle at the swimming world championships.

Gold coup for Floran Wellbrock?: Team Magdeburg against the rest of the world

The countdown is on for the eagerly awaited final over 1500 meters freestyle at the swimming world championships. Florian Wellbrock wants to defend the title, his Magdeburg training partners should help him. Especially in a duel with US star Bobby Finke.

Florian Wellbrock and his Magdeburg training group are right on target for Mission Gold. The favorite easily survived the preliminary heat of 1500 meters at the swimming world championships in Budapest, on Saturday he should fish the first German title out of the water in Budapest. Not only national coach Bernd Berkhahn wants that, but also his training colleagues Lukas Märtens and Mychajlo Romantschuk. All three made it to the final. Wellbrock in particular should deliver there in a duel with US star Bobby Finke.

The American had defeated the German in the 800-meter freestyle and triumphed in both long-distance pool events at the Tokyo Olympics. Over 1500 meters, Wellbrock's biggest goal in Budapest is to successfully defend his world title. With silver in the 800 meters, he has gained a good deal of additional self-confidence. This could be seen in the heat, which he swam together with his buddy Romantschuk in great unity and evenness at the top.

In a time of 14:50.12 minutes, he was fastest of the day ahead of the Ukrainian. "You settle in there, you know each other from training, you know how the other swims. We were completely on target," said Wellbrock. Nobody was fully loaded. He was also pleased that Märtens was also in the finals, which the silver medalist in the 400-meter freestyle had not managed to do over the 800-meter distance. "It was my big goal to show that I'm also capable of doing longer freestyle courses," said Märtens.

Three Magdeburg training partners in the final - what now? Similar to cycling, is there a captain that the others work for? Does one even sacrifice themselves for such a fast pace so that Finke can't use his almost limitless sprinting abilities after all? No, says Wellbrock. Keeping the pace so high that you can beat Finke will probably be the tactic of all other seven finalists besides him, he expects. "In such a top-class field there is no time for tactical games," emphasized the open water Olympic champion.

Yes, says Märtens. "Maybe I can help Florian a little," he emphasized after the heat. "We are now three from a training group and I think that Flo finally wants to beat the American. Maybe we can work together a little." Märtens said openly and honestly: "If it's not complete suicide that I'm attacking like a savage, I would put my own ambitions aside." And coach Berkhahn? He is looking forward to a final that "will probably be even closer than the 800 meters". He will give his three protégés individual tactical instructions. "They all swim a little differently due to their physical condition," said Berkhahn.