News : Swimming World Cup in South Korea: German Open Water relay wins gold surprisingly

The German open water swimmers have surprisingly won gold in the season at the World Cup in South Korea. Lea Boy, Sarah Köhler, Sören Meißner and Rob Muffels won on Thursday after 4 x 1.25 kilometers in 53: 58.7 minutes. Italy came second and third place went to the US team.

It is already the fourth medal for the team of national coach Stefan Lurz at the World Championships in Yeosu: Previously there was already gold for Florian Wellbrock and bronze for muffels over ten kilometers and bronze for Leonie Beck over half the distance. The 25-kilometer races are still pending.

"The three before me did a great job," said final swimmer Muffels after the current race. "I just had the task of keeping the Italians and then passing in the final sprint, we presented ourselves as a whole German team here super."

World Cup debutant Boy was the starting swimmer and handed in fifth to Köhler. She moved as Eighth, Meissner took over. The 29-year-old swam the quartet to the top. The gave Muffels in a duel with the Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri and the Americans Michael Brinegar no more.

Open water national coach Lurz had called a top ten place before the race as "okay". At the previous World Championships in Budapest two years ago, the German open water swimmers were still driving home without a single medal.