Germany’s Lukas Maertens has the first swimming medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics, as he won the men’s 400-meter freestyle on Saturday. 

Maertens was going at world record pace at one point in the race, but his final turn knocked him off that. However, he finished strong and took gold. 

Australia’s Elijah Winnington, who gave Maertens a scare down the stretch, secured a silver medal, while South Korea’s Kim Woomin won bronze. 

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Maertens was gunning for his compatriot Paul Biedermann’s world record of 3:40.07, which was set in Rome in 2009, but he ultimately finished with a final time of 3:41.78. 

Winnington and Woomin were extremely close, finishing 3:42.21 and 3:42.50 respectively. 

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For the U.S., Aaron Shackell, a 19-year-old from Mission Viego, Calif. made the final, but finished in last with a time of 3:47. 

This is only the start of Maerten’s Olympic journey, as he’s also scheduled for the 200-meter freestyle and 200-meter backstroke for Germany. 

Maertens did compete in the Tokyo Games, but he wasn’t able to medal in 2021. However, he was the man to beat in Lane 4 in this event, and no one could catch up in the end.

Maertens previously won gold in this event during the 2022 European Championships, though he was only able to secure bronze in both 2023 and 2024 in the World Championships. 

There’s more to come for Maertens and his competition for these Games, but the German has set the bar with his first Olympic gold medal of his career and for his country in the pool.  

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