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.
JUST SHORT: Sam Short and Lukas Martens after the 400m freestyle, Martens out-touching his Aussie rival by 0.02secs. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
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.”
Short dedicating his swim to his late aunty, who he revealed lost her 10-year-battle with cancer.
“I just want to dedicate that performance there to my aunty, who just passed away a couple of weeks ago.
“It’s been really hard for my family recently. (But) however bad I was hurting there, [it was] nowhere near as bad as her battling cancer for 10 years. So I had to toughen up and get it done.”
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.”
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