European Aquatics Athlete of the Year Awards 2025: Florian Wellbrock voted best men’s open water swimmer
Germany’s Florian Wellbrock has been named the men’s open water swimming winner at the 2025 European Aquatics Athlete of the Year Awards after a dominant victory in the public vote.
The 28-year-old secured 48.67% of the total vote, finishing well clear of a high-calibre field of Olympic and world medallists following a season in which he was one of the stand-out performers across all aquatic disciplines.
The German enjoyed a flawless World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where he emerged as one of the most successful athletes of the entire competition across all disciplines.
The 2021 Olympic champion claimed gold in all three men’s individual open water events and added a fourth title as part of the victorious German relay team – capping a year that saw him make the most of the new 3km knockout sprint addition to complete the quartet of titles.
Despite opting not to compete in the European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Championships in Stari Grad, his dominance on the global stage saw him as an outstanding contender for the award due to the decisiveness of his victories.
Second place in the voting went to David Betlehem of Hungary, who earned 21.44% of the vote after a breakthrough year at both world and European level. Betlehem claimed silver in the 3km knockout sprint and bronze in the team event at the World Aquatics Championships, after adding European silver in the 5km and another medal in the 3km knockout sprint for 2025 – this time a bronze.
He also played a key role in Hungary’s mixed team gold at the European Championships and was a regular presence on podiums across both the World Aquatics and European Aquatics Open Water Cup circuits.
Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri finished third with 16.23% of the vote. One of the most enduring figures in the sport, Paltrinieri once again showcased his consistency and class by winning world silver medals in the 5km, 10km and team event, while also adding European gold in the 5km – taking him to 18 open water medals across the two competitions.
A familiar name on the shortlist, the multiple Olympic and world medallist continues to set the benchmark for longevity at the highest level.
Fourth place went to Kristof Rasovszky of Hungary, who collected 10.50% of the vote following another medal-laden campaign. The Paris 2024 Olympic champion earned world bronze in the mixed team event and was the most successful athlete at the European Championships, where he claimed gold in the 3km knockout sprint, 10km and mixed team event, alongside bronze in the 5km.
Completing the shortlist was Marc-Antoine Olivier of France, who received 3.17% of the vote. Olivier delivered a strong all-round season, highlighted by two bronze medals at the World Aquatics Championships, as well as further success at the European Championships and across the open water cup series.
Stephen Stanley for European Aquatics
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