Paris Olympics: Kristof Rasovszky Adds Olympic 10k Gold To World Title As Hungary Enjoy 1-3 Finish
Kristof Rasovszky of Hungary added the Olympic title to his world crown with victory in the 10k at Paris 2024.
Rasovszky was in the top two throughout and came home in 1:50:52.7 to upgrade Tokyo silver to gold three years on.
Oliver Klemet of Germany was second, 2.1secs behind, with David Betlehem edging Domenico Acerenza in a sprint finish to make it two Hungarians on the podium.
It’s the first time since marathon swimming was introduced to the Olympic programme that two men from the same country have shared the podium although Great Britain pair Keri-anne Payne and Cassandra Patten enjoyed a 2-3 in the women’s race at Beijing 2008.
Thirty-one men dived into the River Seine from the pontoon at Pont Alexandre III, all set for six laps of the 1.67km circuit.
Florian Wellbrock and Rasovszky went to the head of the field, the pair going stroke for stroke along the bankside on the first lap followed by Gregorio Paltrinieri, Marc-Antoine Olivier and Acerenza.
Wellbrock was first through lap one in 17:04 followed by Paltrinieri, Rasovszky, Klemet and Anathasios Kynigakis of Greece.
Rasovszky took over pole position, leading through the end of lap two and taking a drink at the feeding station before he accelerated and opened up a gap on the chasing group.
Wellbrock, however, led the response and although the Hungarian was ahead at the halfway point, the German reclaimed the lead in the early stages of lap four.
Back came Rasovszky with the pair occupying the top two slots into the penultimate lap as the Hungarian charged once more, attempting to put clear water between him and the rest.
While Rasovszky continued at the head of the field, Wellbrock dropped well back, overhauled as the field hugged the bank on the second half of lap five.
Rasovszky went into the final lap in pole position, closely followed by Klemet, Paltrinieri, Betlehem and Acerenza with Wellbrock seventh.
By the final buoy, Rasovszky had broken away with Klemet with a sizeable gap to a four-strong group of Acerenza, Paltrinieri, Betlehem and Hector Pardoe.
However, by the time the swimmers had made their way over to the bank, the deficit had been greatly reduced with the italian duo in striking distance.
Coming through Pont des Invalides for the final time and the front two had pulled away once more with the Hungarian extending his lead into the finishing chute for victory ahead of the German.
Behind them, Betlehem and Acerenza were going stroke for stroke with the former getting the touch by 0.6.
