WSF swimming stars: Nico Braun wins gold in Belgium!

WSF swimming stars: Nico Braun wins gold in Belgium!

Last weekend, Mons in Belgium was the scene of an exciting swimming competition in which the Zweibrücken water sports enthusiasts came out on top. A total of seven athletes took part in the event and achieved remarkable results. With a total of 52 starts, the swimmers qualified for the finals 17 times and took home both gold and silver. There were four gold and four silver medals as well as 13 personal best times.

19-year-old Nico Braun particularly stood out, as he impressed more than just his peers with his achievements. In five preliminary starts he made it to the final four times. He secured the gold medal in the 100 meter breaststroke with a time of 1:05.48 minutes. Things also went well for him in the 200 meter breaststroke final: he finished first with a time of 2:25.64 minutes. In the 100 meter freestyle sprint he took sixth place in 56.94 seconds, while in the 50 meter breaststroke he came fourth in 30.59 seconds.

Team performance and medal shower

Not only Nico Braun shone, his teammates also showed strong performances. Michael Raje, also born in 2006, won two gold medals - one in the 50 meter dolphin discipline and the second in the 100 meter freestyle. Leonie Gieser, born in 2012, achieved two silver medals and fourth place in the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke and 100 meter dolphin events. Anja Braun (born in 2012) also won two silver medals and came eighth in the 100 meter freestyle.

The swimmer Lina Estella Pfeifer, born in 2008, took fourth place in the 50 meter freestyle and sixth in the 100 meter freestyle. Alina Eis (born in 2010) came fifth in the 100 meter backstroke. Jacob Herr, born in 2006, finally came seventh in the 100 meter butterfly and eighth in the 100 meter freestyle. Coach Thomas Schappe expressed himself very satisfied with his team's results, especially in view of the strong international competition.

Swimming in an international context

These successes are no coincidence, as they come in the context of a sport that is characterized by major competitions and records. World records in swimming are recognized by World Aquatics. There are a total of 43 disciplines for men and women. Most world records were set at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, and 30 new records were also achieved at the 2024 Short Course World Championships in Budapest. Because swimming, especially at international venues, is a competition that also attracts the best athletes in the world.

The competition in Belgium was not only a stage for personal bests, but also an important springboard for the swimmers from Zweibrücken to prepare for future challenges in the swimming world. The athletes are optimally positioned to perhaps soon compete with the big names in the scene, such as Caeleb Dressel or Katie Ledecky. To be at the top in swimming, you need one thing above all: a good knack for the right mix of training and competition.

It remains to be hoped that the positive development of the swimmers from Zweibrücken will continue and that they will continue to build on their successes in the next competitions. The team has proven that they have a lot of potential - there is definitely still a lot to do.