World Championships: German Lukas Martens Wins 400 Freestyle Battle Royal with Australia’s Sam Short and Korea’s Woomin Kim
German Olympic champion Lukas Martens snatched a last gasp victory and his maiden world title to grab the 400-meter freestyle gold medal in the opening event of the opening session of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore tonight.
Martens staged a stroke-for-stroke battle royal with Australia’s 2023 world champion Sam Short to take the title on the last stroke, clocking 3:42.35 (51.95; 1:48.34) to out-touch Short, who clocked 3:42.37 (52.46; 1:48.53; 2:45.43). Paris Olympic bronze medallist Woomin Kim (Korea) again took the bronze in 3:42.60 (52.77; 1:49.29; 2:46.43).
It was 23-year-old Martens who took the race out, leading through the first 200m in 1:48.34, before the dogged Short, fourth in Paris, took over at the 250m turn and led until the pair headed for home, staging a thrillng finish.
“There was a lot of pressure,” Martens said. “As a world record holder, it was not easy to fight these guys. But I tried my best, I gave out everything, and I’m really happy and proud to be a world champion. Now, Germany has a new world champion, and
that’s not usual I think. Really proud.”
Short showed he meant business, winning the first of the two seeded heats in a sizzling 3:42.07 – sending a clear message to Martens and the rest of the contenders – including 2024 world champion Kim, who was second in the heat in 3:44.99, followed by Victor Johansson (SWE) 3:44.68; Zhanshuo Zhang (CHN) 3:44.82; Marco de Tullio (ITA) 3:44.92; Petar Mitsin (BUL) 3:45.28 and Oliver Klemet (GER) 3:46.86.
Martens responded with his controlled second heat win in a time of 3:43.81 – setting up the battle between the 2024 Olympic champion and world record holder and the 2023 world champion – and the pair put on a perfect start to the 2025 Championships. Finally, a world championship gold went to Martens, who won silver behind Australia’s Elijah Winnington in 2022 and third to Short in 2022 and Kim in 2024.
Short admitted he thought he may have done enough.
“When I was with Lukas at 100m to go, I knew it was going to be a dog fight. He’s pretty good at everything so I knew I wasn’t going to be pulling away and I was hurting as well. He got a good finish on me and I just wasn’t quite good today,” said Short.
“It’s good to be back on the podium. It was a pleasure racing the Olympic champion, world record holder and world champion.
“So I knew he was going be a tough opponent. I’m super pumped to come out here and I could hear the crowd from inside the tunnel.
“I’m really proud of how hard I pushed myself and got the silver medal and to get back on the podium, it’s a long meet to come.
“I’m back on the podium, did a great heat this morning, backed it up. I was in Lane 4, high-pressure environment. Got back on the podium and it’s just exciting for the rest of the week.”
“I put my head down in the last five metres and I thought I might have had it…I (actually) won my world championship two years ago by .tyhe same margin, 02s. Fine margins. Maybe if I were as tall as Lukas I would’ve won, but I’m….shorter.”
Kim said: “It’s been a while since I did a (3min) 42-second record. If I train harder, I think I’ll break my personal record soon. I’m the defending champion, and I want to win Olympic gold, but today I just really wanted to be on the podium. It’s my fourth time in the final. I want to be a swimmer who wins medals every time.
“I was worried because my pace wasn’t as good as in the morning, but I could feel my body and I was enjoying the atmosphere. I think my body got into the flow naturally.”
