Overview

• Lukas Märtens set a new 400-meter freestyle world record with a time of 3:39.96 minutes, breaking the 2009 record held by Paul Biedermann.
• The record-setting swim occurred at the Swim Open in Stockholm, marking the first time the 3:40 barrier was broken in the event.
• Märtens credited his performance to his recent three-week high altitude training camp in the Sierra Nevada, though he admitted the record came as a surprise.
• Paul Biedermann, whose record stood for nearly 16 years, congratulated Märtens and expressed pride in the record remaining in German hands.
• This achievement positions Märtens as a leading favorite for the upcoming World Championships in Singapore later this summer.