Maertens wins 400m freestyle gold for Germany

He emerged victorious from a final that included several world champions. Maertens clocked in at 3:41.78, finishing 0.43 seconds ahead of Australian silver medalist Elijah Winnington and South Korean bronze medalist Kim Woo-min at La Defense Arena.

Hailing from Magdeburg, Maertens entered the race with the fastest time of the year and successfully delivered on the grandest stage, becoming the first German to win this event since Uwe Dassler claimed the title for East Germany at the 1988 Seoul Games.

This triumph marks a significant milestone for Maertens, who had previously secured two bronzes and a silver at the last three world championships.

He took an early lead, outpacing a trio of world champions including Kim, Winnington, and Australia's Sam Short.

Maertens maintained a world record pace until the final 50 meters, ultimately securing victory despite Winnington's strong finish, earning him his second Olympic medal.

SportsLigue