Kristof Rasovsky won silver in the 10km open water swimmers’ event on Sunday at the World Aquatics Olympic Qualifying Championships in Fukuoka, thus officially earning the right to start in the five rings event.
Kristof Rasovsky: That was the goal, to be in the top three
“I’ve got the stake, the straight arrow, so I don’t have to worry about whether… that’s the point, to be in the top three, and I don’t have to worry about the rules there and what not.” – said the silver medalist Kristof Rasovsky.
He added that the goal was to be able to calmly prepare for the Olympics like he did with Tokyo in 2019. At that time, fourth place was enough, but now he had to finish in the top three to get a share.
“In the second half of the race I felt like I had the strength, so I went as far as I could. At the end I saw in the last lap, we were three. The Germans and me. Florian Wilbrook started to go away, I felt maybe he wouldn’t make it, but I didn’t give up and I was like We won’t give up second place, anything can happen.” He said.
László Szokolai: Christophe was able to do everything we planned perfectly
Rasovsky had a huge battle for second place with Germany’s Oliver Clement.
“Oliver is faster in the pool. There are better ones this year in the 1500, 800, 400, but I was like, ‘I’m not interested in anything here. I’m not going to give second place, there can’t be a German 1-2, like the Italians last year.'” 20m I was as tough as the French are used to. No mercy, until you get to the yellow card, if that’s the case. It fits. The rules allow it, and the judges allow it. Before the race, they told me to be as tough as possible. So in big letters. Well, I did it now – said the silver medalist about the designer.
Rasovszky won the silver medal in the 10 km open swimming event at the Fukuoka Aquatic World Championships.
“I thought we should get as far behind Willbrook as possible. We know what he’s capable of, and we saw in Tokyo that he went straight ahead. He didn’t care or care about anyone, he went and won a street length. That’s pretty much what we were preparing for here, but I was Like, things can go faster and we don’t have to go until the last lap, because there’s a lot of us up front, because who knows what’s going to happen there and they’ll do it three stakes.” Rasovszky said.
David Bethlehem: I lost power somewhere on the third lap, and from there I had it all
“This competition wasn’t even. I also got into a lot of scuffles, but I can’t tell you what happened. I lost power somewhere on the third lap and I struggled with everything from there. I’d like to congratulate Christophe on getting the medal and the kota. I thought I could At least to be there and we will qualify for the Olympics together, but I’m not giving up, I still have four more events. I’m trying to pull myself together as quickly as possible and focus on the rest. Think David Bethlehem.
results:
Open water swimming 10 km men world champion:
Florian Wilbrook (Germany) 1:50:40.3hrs
2. Kristof Razovsky 1:50:59.0
3. Oliver Klimt (Germany) 1:51:00.8
…16. Bethlehem David 1:53:30.9
Cover Photo:
Fukuoka, July 16, 2023. Silver medalist Christoph Rasovsky, winner from Germany Florian Willbrook, and compatriot, third-place finisher Oliver Klimt (BJ) at the announcement of the results of the 10km open water swimmers. At the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka on July 16, 2023. MTI / Koszticsák Solid
