How Did Germany's Wellbrock Rediscover Joy with a Historic Gold Haul at the World Aquatics Championships?

Berlin (Germany), July 20 (NationPress) Despite participating in numerous swimming competitions, Florian Wellbrock continues to feel anxious before races. "I had a tough night and couldn’t rest due to my nerves. I was constantly thinking about our chance to create history," shared the 27-year-old German after securing his fourth gold medal at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships on Singapore's Sentosa Island.

This latest victory came in the newly introduced 3 km open water knockout sprint team event, adding to his individual golds in the 10 km, 5 km, and individual sprint races, as reported by Xinhua.

The Bremen-born athlete anchored the German team, alongside Celine Rieder, Oliver Klemet, and Isabel Gose, leveraging a 10-second head start built by his teammates to clinch the win. With an astonishing collection of three individual gold medals along with the team title, Wellbrock has become the first swimmer to achieve such a remarkable feat.

However, the celebration must be short-lived. The indoor events at Singapore's Sports Hub commence on July 27, leaving Wellbrock with only a week's rest before facing his next challenge.

While Klemet, who earned silver in the 10 km at the 2024 Paris Olympics, deemed the mission "accomplished," Wellbrock's journey at the 2025 World Championships is far from finished. Notably, he managed the high water temperatures in Singapore with remarkable ease.

The German broadcaster ARD compared the conditions to a "hot tub," while Bild referred to the tournament as "Wellbrock's Championships."

Despite his dominance in open water, memories of his struggles in the pool during the 2024 Paris Olympics linger. Cooler water temperatures contributed to his underperformance, missing a medal in the 10 km and failing to qualify for the finals in the 800 m and 1500 m indoor events.

"My world collapsed after Paris," Wellbrock confessed in recent interviews. "But I managed to reset by taking longer breaks, training less, and adopting a more relaxed approach. My body told me I needed to stop."

At one point, the joy of competition faded, replaced by overwhelming pressure. "I believed I had to win every medal before every race," he shared.

Now, he claims to have regained independence from public expectations, focusing solely on his own body and mind. "I’ve reinvented myself," he explained, after briefly contemplating retirement. "I’m back on the starting block because I enjoy it. I participate because I love the sport, not due to public expectations to win."

Working with a new sports psychologist and adjusting his training routines has aided in rebuilding his confidence. Nevertheless, he admits that the scale of his medal haul in Singapore took him by surprise.

This success, he stated, provides fresh motivation as he approaches the indoor events. Wellbrock also expressed his intention to retire after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with plans to transition into a career in real estate.

But for now, retirement can wait, as further challenges await in the pool in Singapore.