Germany’s Lukas Martens, now 24, won 400m freestyle gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. On April 12 last year in Stockholm he set a world 400m freestyle record of 3:39.96, bettering the 2009 mark of 3:40.07, and added world gold in Singapore. Four years after winning his first international title at the European Aquatics Championships in Rome he is seeking another victory in the French capital this summer.
And if anyone has tickets for the men’s 400m final in Paris – he and his family urgently need them!
Looking back now on your Paris 2024 experiences, which do you most clearly recall?
I had already celebrated a few successes before, but the moment I won the Olympic gold medal topped everything else.
Since Paris isn’t too far by car from my hometown of Magdeburg my family was able to experience it all first-hand. So it turned out to be the best day I’ve ever had in sports.
What do you remember of the Olympic atmosphere and the city? Did it feel different to other competitions?
The atmosphere was fantastic at these Olympic Games. The whole city was crazy for sports, nobody talked about politics, and people were all very friendly and welcoming whenever they ran into us athletes around town.
Living together in the Olympic Village also created a special sense of camaraderie.
Many athletes tend to get particularly nervous during Olympic competition. For me, however, it was completely different in Paris. After a difficult season, I had nothing to lose and was able to go on the offensive without any pressure.
How different as an athlete and a person do you think you are heading into Paris 2026 compared to Paris 2024?
I don’t think I’ve changed much since 2024. Perhaps, I’ve become a little more relaxed since I’ve already won all the major races. But that doesn’t change the fact that I still want to be at the top. In any case, I’m still training just as hard and with the same discipline.
Were a world title and gold medal a surprise to you in 2025 – or no more than you expected?
It was a really tough and close race. I could have finished second. But maybe that’s exactly why it turned out that way in the end – because I earned the gold a little more by setting the world record and posting a few other top times beforehand.
What are your personal ambitions for Paris 2026?
I’m sure these European Championships in Paris will be just as exciting. I would love nothing more than to stand on top of the podium in Paris again. And I’d love to add another medal to my collection.
How significant will the Paris 2026 Championships be for you in terms of a marker on the route to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics?
For me, the European Championships are definitely the highlight of the year – everything in my training is geared toward that. And of course, I want to set my season best there. To achieve that, the most important thing is to stay healthy – something I still struggle with sometimes.
Were you able to have friends and family watching you in Paris. If so, how special was that and will it happen again this summer?
I’m thrilled that my sister Leonie will be back in Paris this year after missing last year’s World Championships due to a broken hand. Of course, my parents are coming back too. They have a few tickets, but the final Sunday – featuring ‘my’ 400-meter freestyle – was already sold out. We’re still desperately looking for a solution.
Did you have much chance to experience Paris as a city in 2024? Any particular places/scenes that resonated strongly? What will be on your city wishlist this summer?
Paris is a wonderful city. Our family used to go on vacation there often when I was a child. This time, I’ll be staying a few days longer after the competitions so I’ll have time to visit the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées and to do a little shopping.
Maybe I’ll even take a short trip through France. Marseille and the Mediterranean are also tempting, but I haven’t finalised my plans yet.
Swimming at the European Aquatics Championships Paris 2026 will take place from August 10 to 16.
Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics
