Florian Wellbrock & Bettina Fabian Named Top Open Water Swimmers At European Aquatics Awards
Florian Wellbrock and Bettina Fabian have been named men’s and women’s top open water swimmers in the 2025 European Aquatics Athlete of the Year Awards.
Wellbrock secured 48.67% of the total vote to finish ahead of David Betlehem of Hungary (21.44% of the vote) and Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri who finished third with 16.23%.
Photo Courtesy: World Aquatics
Wellbrock, a member of the Magdeburg powerhouse coached by Bernd Berkhahn, was one of the most successful athletes across all disciplines at the World Championships in Singapore.
The Tokyo 10k champion won the 5km, 10km and 3km for a sweep of the men’s individual events in sweltering conditions on Sentosa Island. He then anchored the Germany quartet to victory in the 4x1500m team event.
Betlehem claimed silver in the 3km knockout sprint and bronze in the team event in Singapore, after adding European silver in the 5km and bronze in the 3km knockout sprint for 2025. He also played a key role in Hungary’s mixed team gold at the European Championships.
Paltrinieri once again showcased his consistency and class by winning world silver medals in the 5km, 10km and team event, while also adding European gold in the 5km.
Fabian secured 30.51% of the total vote, emerging ahead of Italy’s Ginevra Taddeucci, who finished second with 28.69%, and Lisa Pou of Monaco.
Bettina Fabian: Antonella Mannara/European Aquatics
The Hungarian twice reached the top of the podium at the European Aquatics Championships, winning gold in the 3km knockout sprint and gold in the team event.
Taddeucci, who won 10k bronze at Paris 2024, won four silver medals at the World Championships across the 3km knockout sprint, 5km, 10km and team event.
She added the European 5km title, team and 10km silver medals, and capped her year by winning the overall World Aquatics Open Water Cup series.
Pou claimed world bronze in the 10km and overall victory in the European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Cup.
