Wellbrock sets 1,500m freestyle short course world record

Supplied

Germany's Florian Wellbrock set a short course world record in the men's 1,500m freestyle on the final day of the FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Wellbrock, who won gold in the 10km open water event at the Tokyo Olympics, clocked 14:06.88 to better Gregorio Paltrinieri's mark of 14:08.065.

"Since I've always preferred long course, earlier this year I did not think of breaking the world record here as honestly I had ridiculous times in short course," Wellbrock said.

"I think my personal best was almost identical with my long course top time.

"Then, I had a really good race in Kazan (at the European short course championships), where I clocked 14:09.88 and from that point I knew anything was possible here."

The German won a bronze medal in the men's 1,500m freestyle in the Tokyo pool this year.

Wellbrock's world record was the fourth of the meet after Margaret MacNeil in the women's 50m backstroke, Siobhan Haughey in the women's 200m freestyle and Sweden's women equalling the Americans' mark in the 4×50m medley relay.

The United States topped the medal charts with nine golds (30 total medals), followed by Canada with seven golds (15) and Italy with five (16).

More from Sports News

  • Arsenal go top as title race goes down to final day

    Arsenal's Leandro Trossard capitalised on dreadful defending to secure a 1-0 win against Manchester United that saw the Gunners climb back to the top of the Premier League, ensuring the title race will be decided on the final day.

  • Pogacar retains overall Giro D'Italia lead

    UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar has retained his overall lead after Dutchman Olav Kooij won stage nine of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, pipping Jonathan Milan by half a wheel right at the finish line in a breathless sprint at the end of a 214-km ride from Avezzano to Naples.

  • McIlroy wins fourth Wells Fargo Championship title

    Rory McIIroy claimed his fourth Wells Fargo Championship after a superb back nine saw him finish -17 par having trailed by two shots after seven holes.

  • Djokovic suffers shock Italian Open defeat

    Alejandro Tabilo claimed the biggest win of his career beating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-3 in the third round of the Italian Open, two days after the Serbian was hit on the head by a water bottle.

Blogs