Swimming: Lukas Maertens holds off Elijah Winnington to win Paris 2024 men’s 400m freestyle
Germany’s Lukas Maertens snagged the first swimming gold medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, holding off a hard-charging Elijah Winnington of Australia in the men’s 400m freestyle final at Paris La Defense Arena on 27 July.
Maertens swam well ahead of world-record pace throughout much of the race, but slowed in the final 50 metres. He ultimately finished more than a second off Paul Biedermann’s scorching world record of 3:40.07, but still did more than enough to claim the gold medal with a time of 3:41.78.
Winnington swam a conservative race, turning on the jets over the final length of the pool. He chased a tiring Maertens to the wall, finishing in a time of 3:42.21 to claim the silver medal.
The Republic of Korea’s Kim Woomin swam much of the final less than a body length behind the eventual gold medallist. He was passed in the final 50 metres by Winnington, but managed to power to the wall to claim the bronze medal with a time of 3:42.50.
NANTERRE, FRANCE - JULY 27: Lukas Maertens of Team Germany prepares to compete in the Men's 400m Freestyle Heats on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Maertens was overcome with emotion when receiving his gold medal at the victory ceremony, acknowledging the crowd and celebrating his momentous achievement.
“It was so beautiful, I felt tingling all over my body,” the victorious German told broadcasting network ARD. “So many thoughts, so many feelings, so many thoughts of the ones who have accompanied me over the years — be it in Magdeburg or throughout Germany — came to my mind.”
The moment was all the more special, since Maertens became the first male swimmer from Germany to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 36 years.
“I was overwhelmed,” said Maertens. “I stopped, looked at the scoreboard and thought, 'nah, that can't be right.' That was anything but foreseeable, after this season and after all the exertion, even if all the performances beforehand were good.”
Nonetheless, the scoreboard was correct. Lukas Maertens was an Olympic champion.
Swimming: Men's 400m freestyle podium
Gold: Lukas Maertens (Germany)
Silver: Elijah Winnington (Australia)
Bronze: Kim Woomin (Republic of Korea)