European Aquatics Championships: German swimmers Köhler, Gose, and Werner win medals

Angelina Köhler and Isabel Gose earned silver medals, and Maya Werner took bronze for Germany at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, adding to the nation's medal tally. While the team celebrated successes, opportunities were also missed. Köhler's silver in the 100-meter butterfly was particularly emotional, with her celebrating the achievement as if it were a title.

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That was the absolute mega hammer. Finally swimming so fast again.

Köhler, 25, described her performance as a "mega hammer" and expressed joy at swimming so fast again. This medal marks her first major international success since her 2024 World Championship win, following disappointing results at the Paris Olympics and the previous year's World Championships. She attributed her comeback to significant changes in her training and diet, including cutting back on sweets and sugary drinks. Köhler also spoke about overcoming mental challenges in the days leading up to the competition, emphasizing the reward of seeing her hard work pay off.

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I've worked so much mentally, and this is simply the greatest reward that it's working out now.

Isabel Gose secured her fourth medal of the championships by winning silver in the 800-meter freestyle. Her teammate Maya Werner also reached the podium, taking bronze in the same event. Gose had previously won gold in open water swimming and with the mixed relay. Lukas Märtens, Gose's ex-boyfriend and teammate, did not meet his own expectations in the 200-meter freestyle, finishing with a time of 1:45.58. Despite his disappointment, he maintained a lighthearted demeanor when speaking to the press.

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I told myself, Angie, you can trust yourself, you are the sly fox here. You are someone who can come from behind. Nobody can do anything to you.

Köhler's silver medal came with a time of 56.39 seconds, just 0.31 seconds behind the gold medalist, Roos Vanotterdijk of Belgium. Gose's performance placed her just over three seconds behind the Italian winner, Simona Quadarella. The German swimming team has now accumulated eight medals in the pool events at the championships.

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I would have liked to be faster here, by about two seconds.