Lukas Maertens from Germany has claimed the first swimming medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics by securing victory in the men’s 400-meter freestyle event on Saturday.
At one stage in the race, Maertens was racing at an astonishing world record pace, but a hiccup during his final turn impacted that speed. Nonetheless, he finished powerfully, earning the gold medal.
Elijah Winnington of Australia put up a strong challenge toward the end, finishing with a silver medal, while South Korea’s Kim Woomin took home the bronze.
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Lukas Maertens of Team Germany celebrates with Oliver Klemet after winning gold in the men’s 400-meter freestyle at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 held at Paris La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Maertens aimed to break his countryman Paul Biedermann’s world record of 3:40.07, established in Rome in 2009, but finished the race with a time of 3:41.78.
Winnington and Woomin closely followed him, clocking in at 3:42.21 and 3:42.50 respectively.
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For Team USA, 19-year-old Aaron Shackell from Mission Viejo, California, made it to the final but finished last with a time of 3:47.
Lukas Maertens of Germany participates in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke heats during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
This marks just the beginning of Maertens’ Olympic adventure, as he is also lined up for the 200-meter freestyle and the 200-meter backstroke events representing Germany.
Having competed in the Tokyo Games, he narrowly missed out on a medal in 2021.
Prior to this, Maertens achieved gold in this event at the 2022 European Championships, but settled for bronze at both the 2023 and 2024 world championships.
Gold Medalist Lukas Maertens of Team Germany poses with his medal during the medal ceremony after the men’s 400-meter freestyle final on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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With more competitions ahead, Maertens has set the standard with the first Olympic gold medal of his career and for Germany in swimming.
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