World Championships: Dominant Florian Wellbrock Claims Historic Third 10k Title Ahead Of Paltrinieri & Lee
Florian Wellbrock led from the front throughout to claim an historic third world 10k title despite a late attack from Gregorio Paltrinieri in Singapore.
The German was in control at the head of the field for almost the entirety of the race at Sentosa Island despite Kristof Rasovszky’s early surge and he came home in 1:59:55.5.
With victory, Wellbrock became the first swimmer to claim a treble of 10k wins in World Championship history as he added Singapore gold to his titles at the 2019 and 2023 editions. He surpassed Vladimir Dyatchin and Spyridon Gianniotis, who each claimed two 10k crowns, with Keri-anne Payne, Aurelie Muller and Sharon van Rouwendaal also winning two apiece. The Dutchwoman is not competing in 2025.
Paltrinieri was second, 3.7secs behind the German in 1:59:59.2, with Kyle Lee of Australia edging out Olympic silver medallist and Wellbrock’s training partner Oliver Klemet in a photo finish for third in 2:00:10.3 to 2:00:10.4 as the pair went stroke for stroke down the finishing chute. That made it two men in the top four for Bernd Berkhahn who coaches Wellbrock and Klemet in Magdeburg.
Olympic champion Rasovszky was 13th as 58 men finished inside the cut-off time while 11 men didn’t finish including Rio 2016 bronze medallist Marc-Antoine Olivier who was still in the mix in the second half of the race with his last recorded time at 1:40.12.
The race got underway at 1pm local time after the early start that had initially been planned was pushed back because of poor water quality and high levels of the e-coli bacteria.
The field were greeted by a water temperature measured at 30.4 degrees at Palawan Beach and choppy waters which were likened to a “40-degree washing machine” by Paltrinieri.
Rasovszky went to the head of the field with Hungary teammate David Betlehem as Wellbrock lurked, the Tokyo Olympic champion making his move to lead at the end of the first lap.
Rasovszky responded to go ahead, although he didn’t break away, as Wellbrock once more came through to the helm, breathing to his right as he eye-balled the Hungarian.
He enjoyed a lead of two bodylengths at the end of lap two and as the wind speed increased so did Wellbrock as he surged on lap three followed by the Hungarian duo. Neutral athlete Denis Adeev also made his presence felt as he moved into second with the field stretched.
Klemet had sat back in the first half of the race but moved into third with Paltrinieri and Marc-Antoine Olivier also in the mix along with Lee who is known for his finishing speed.
Florian Wellbrock & Gregorio Paltrinieri; Photo Courtesy: World Aquatics
Into the final lap and still Wellbrock led from the front ahead of Magdeburg training partner Klemet and Paltrinieri, who’d taken a double feed at the final feeding station.
The swimmers were greeted by 2-3ft swells as they navigated around the buoys and while Wellbrock powered out in front as he kicked, Paltrinieri had come past Lee and then Klemet and moved into second place.
Wellbrock came past the final turn with a clear lead but Paltrinieri wasn’t done as he dug in, almost punching the water in his desire to close the gap on the German. He moved on to Wellbrock’s feet and moved out to the side in readiness for a charge but Wellbrock kicked again to claim a clear victory and make history in the process.
Paltrinieri won his second world 10k medal, three years after gold at Budapest 2022, to add to his Olympic bronze in Tokyo while Lee won his first individual world open water medal.
Wellbrock, who also won bronze at Budapest 2022, said in a post-race interview by World Aquatics: “I am really happy first of all. To be honest, I hated to race in cold water so today was like perfect conditions for me so I’m really happy with my gold.”
Of the air and water heat, he added: “You have to listen to your body in warm water and it’s so important to listen to your rhythm and your body and to save some energy for the last lap.”
He was aware of Paltrinieri’s proximity throughout. “All the time. In the last lap I realised that it was Ollie (Klemet) and Greg swimming behind me. It’s so dangerous when this guy (Gregorio) is swimming so close behind you because he always has a great finish. I was a little bit nervous and I tried to push all the time and tried to stay strong.”
Paltrinieri said: “I knew Florian was going to be on the top so I tried to stay in the back for the first half of the race and then try to close the gap on him. It was actually a really beautiful race for me so I’m really glad to be on the podium.”
Redemption for Florian, yes!!!
But don’t forget Thomas Lurz, who won also three 10K world titles (2004, 2007, 2009).
Hello “Oliver K”! If you happen to be Klemet, I must congratulate you on a great race and making me hold my breath watching the fight for bronze!