2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 23 to 30, 2023
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Marine Messe Fukuoka
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Results
German distance star Florian Wellbrock asserted his dominance in open water, taking the World Championship title in the men’s 10k by 18 seconds today.
Bouncing back from his bronze medal finish at last year’s championships, Wellbrock finished in a time of 1:50.40.30, coming in over 18 seconds ahead of runner-up Kristof Rasovszky of Hungary. Rasovszky also came in under the 1:51.00 mark, dipping under it in a time of 1:50.59.00.
Unlike the women’s 10k, which was also won by a German (Leonie Beck), the battle for third was not nearly as tight as German Oliver Klemet nabbed the bronze with a 1:51.00.80 performance, just missing out on the silver medal.
“It’s amazing — back on top of the world,” Wellbrock said. “Double gold for Germany and also one bronze medal, so three Olympics spots for the German team. It’s unbelievable.
“I love to be in the open water to swim with my friends and with the competitors but I wouldn’t say I like to get stuck in the pack, to swim at the feet behind someone,” Wellbrock explained. “I like to set the pace, to decide where we have to go and when we have to be faster or slower. This is really nice.”
“The support was amazing,” Wellbrock added. “Before the World Championships and the Olympics, all the big events, you can fuel the fire of fans and family and I am so thankful for all of them.”
With their top-3 finishes in this event, Wellbrock, Rasovszky, and Klemet all officially qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the 10k. Wellbrock and Rasovszky finished 1-2 at the 2021 Olympic Games in this race, giving them the chance to repeat their finishes in Paris.
“Maybe the first place Florian was much stronger in the last lap so I’m really happy I could beat the other German for second place,” Rasovszky said. “Next race for me is the 5km relay, and the pool swim will be the other plus side. I could get an Olympic qualification and I’m really happy. I could say anything more.”
For Klemet, this marked his first individual medal at the World Championships. He won a gold medal as a member of Germany’s 4×1500 relay last year.
“I feel really good,” Klemet said. “Making the Olympic spot in this race was pretty good. I’m so proud. It’s really hard to qualify by open water — also the pool, too. So it’s really good to qualify now.”
Behind Klemet, Italians Domenico Acerenza and Gregorio Paltrinieri nabbed the 4th and 5th place positions. Last year, the pair finished 1st and 2nd in this event, meaning that Wellbrock was the only returning member of the podium from last year’s meet. Paltrinieri narrowly finished ahead of Athanasios Kynigakis of Greece, with Kynigakis wrapping up the top 6 finishers with a 1:51.42.10.
Not sure which companies sponsor Wellbrock professionally, but BMW, Mercedes, or Porsche would certainly do well to bring him aboard. His stroke technique and horsepower are perfectly engineered.
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Decide for yourself.
He said it in the interview after the race that he used his 77 pound weight advantage to not let him near the wall at the end. How it’s allowed is beyond me. Even more beyond me why the Germans did not appeal.
For the record: I am Hungarian, nothing against a good start for Hungary. But not at any cost!
Bonus uncoolness: hugging the life out of Klemet after crushing him to the side wall was extra creepy as if had made it ok…
Yes I was surprised no appeal. As it unfolded I was looking for who come in 4th, feeling like Rasovszky was in a bit of trouble and may be DQ’d on the appeal. No doubt he swam a great race, just a poor decision at the end but it does highlight what is possibly a lack of integrity on his behalf 🤷.
I wonder if the fact an extra Italian makes the Paris 24 Olympics, if Rasovszky is DQ’d on appeal, played into any German decision to appeal or not????
Agreed, he appears to be riding roughshod over his opponent, not very sportsman like. If it’s true that he even bragged about it in an interview, even worse. Oliver will take this as a learning opportunity, it will likely never going to happen to him ever again. Leoni Beck solved for it smartly the day before by laterally distancing herself from her key opponents well in advance of the finish. For Oliver, he booked his Paris ticket either way and as the old German saying goes: You always meet twice in life!
What happened at the end? Did Rasovszky knock out Klemet? Is there a video of it?
NBC Sports/Peacock is not broadcasting the 5 kilometer open water swimming competition.
Rasovszky galant today but Wellbrock is just an Openwater beast, hard to imagine a more supreme athlete for this discipline.
Klemet looked hard done by with Rasovszky swimming across his line to the finish pad, really poor form to me, when both were getting what they had worked hard for regardless of the medal colour today.
Agree about Rasovszky. The fact that Rasovszky felt the need to sink so low shows how strong Klemet is. Will be interesting to see how Klemet will do in the 400 free, seems like a very difficult double.
I thought that the error was just in the headlines, but Klement written three times also in the article..: it’s Klemet, Oliver Klemet.
Wellbrock is just on fire this year
I was tempted to say “Rasovszky came in clutch so the Hungarians don’t remain medalless” but this is only the second day of World’s so that would have been overdramatic.
Wellbrock looks to be in terrific form, that 1500 free prediction seems even more sound now.