Germany's Wellbrock completes 5/10km title double at swim Euros

Germany's Florian Wellbrock completed an open water swimming title double at the European championships in Wednesday when he added 5-kilometre gold to that from the 10km in Paris.

Wellbrock dominated from the start and held off a late challenge from Hungarian David Bethlehem who like the previous day had to settle for silver. The bronze went to Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri.

Wellbrock came good in the River Seine after his Olympic fiasco from 2024 when he neither medalled in the open water there nor later in the pool events.

The return to the top is also remarkable given that he suffered several health setbacks this season.

"I have no explanation where this jump in performance has come from," he said. "At times I had to train with the girls this year because I was simply too slow for the boys."

The 28-year-old has achieved the 5/10km double at the 2023 and 2025 world championships as well and last year even swept all four open water golds in Singapore, the other events being the sprint and relay.

“I’ve just got it in the back of my mind that might being able to repeat what one did in Singapore and win four gold medals. But I’d better keep my feet on the ground for now,” Wellbrock said.

He now has five medals overall at the Euros, three of them gold. He also has 11 golds and 16 medals in total from world championships and Olympics.

Wellbrock has said he will not compete in the pool events in Paris next week.