Florian Wellbrock clinched his third gold as Germany won the team relay on the final day of the open water competition in Paris.
Wellbrock took over on the final leg from Olympic silver medallist Oliver Klemet after Julia Ackermann and Isabel Gose had swum the first two 1500 laps in the River Seine.
The quartet posted 1:03:39.2 for the title ahead of Italy for whom 5/10k champion Ginevra Taddeucci went on the second leg and who came home in 1:03:41.3.
David Betlehem followed up his 3km knockout sprint title by anchoring Hungary to bronze in 1:03:42.4.
Wellbrock may not have replicated his historic four-gold haul from last year’s World Championships in Singapore but his title-winning performances in the 5k, 10k and mixed relay plus Gose’s sprint crown ensured Germany finished top of the medal table with four golds and a bronze.
Italy were second two golds, a silver and four bronzes followed by Hungary with one gold, five silvers and a bronze.
“It’s crazy; I really didn’t expect this,” said Wellbrock after emerging from the River Seine. “I never would have dreamed of winning three titles here. I am incredibly grateful to have experienced something like this again.”
