Märtens continues German dominance of worlds as pool swimming starts

Märtens Claims World Title, Adds to Olympic Gold Haul

German swimmer dominates 400-meter freestyle at World Aquatics Championships.

SINGAPORE - German sensation Lukas Märtens added another gold medal to his collection on Sunday, capturing the men's 400-meter freestyle title at the World Aquatics Championships. The 23-year-old touched the wall in a time of 3 minutes 42.35 seconds, securing victory ahead of Australia's Samuel Short, who took silver. South Korea's Kim Woo Min claimed bronze.

This marks Märtens' first world championship gold, adding to his Olympic gold medal triumph in the 200-meter backstroke at the upcoming Paris 2024 Games.

A Year of Dominance

Märtens' impressive form this year began in April when he shattered Paul Biedermann's 16-year-old world record in the 400m freestyle with a stunning time of 3:39.96. He previously earned bronze and silver medals in the 400m at previous world championships.

Despite facing health challenges leading up to Singapore, Märtens remains a top contender for gold in the 800-meter freestyle.

The pool swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships commenced on Sunday and will continue until next Sunday. Germany has already enjoyed success in the open water swimming events, with Florian Wellbrock claiming three individual gold medals and contributing to Germany's mixed relay victory.