Olympia 2024 - First the gold medal, then to bed: No party for Lukas Maertens
The 22-year-old Lukas Märtens won sovereignly the Gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games on Saturday in the 400 Meter Freestyle. After the award ceremony in Arena La Défense, the Magdeburger fought back tears during the German national anthem. The bitter part: Märtens unfortunately had no time afterwards to celebrate his sensational victory. More swimming competitions were waiting in line.
Therefore, he didn't make any detours to the German House either, where medal winners often celebrate their achievements with their fellow countrymen in the evening. For Märtens, it went directly home and to bed on Saturday. The big party therefore still has to wait for him: "That's tough, but that's what I've been training for the last few years," Märtens said to the "Bild" newspaper after his triumph. That's why it means for him now: "Every minute for regeneration. I believe I still have a chance for precious metals." He had given himself so much in the fight for gold that he had to surrender himself behind the stage after the race. Already on Sunday morning, it goes for Märtens with the heats over 200 Meter Freestyle further.
For Lukas Märtens, the favorite role is still unfamiliar
By the way: In his gold race, Märtens did not have the world record in mind. "I don't care if it fell or not. I'm up there and I think I deserve it." The time was just circling in his head, but the goal was the medal, said the Gold Medal winner to the "Bild" newspaper. It wasn't always easy for him to deal with the favorite role.
After the Olympics, Märtens has to put himself under the surgeon's knife. He suffers from a chronic sinusitis, which forced him to stop training for three months in the fall of 2023. "That will take six to seven weeks," Märtens also told the "Bild" newspaper about the planned surgery. An operation date will be made after the return from Paris.
Lukas Märtens, the Gold Medal winner from Germany, expressed his satisfaction during an interview with the "Bild" newspaper, stating that he didn't focus on breaking the world record in his 400 Meter Freestyle race at the Olympic Games in Paris, instead he was aiming for the medal. Despite his success, Märtens has had trouble adjusting to the role of favorite, revealing this struggle during the same interview. After the Olympic Games, Märtens will undergo surgery for his chronic sinusitis, an issue that forced him to take a three-month break from training in the fall of 2023. This operation is expected to take six to seven weeks, with a specific date to be determined upon his return from Paris.
