Olympic Champion Lukas Märtens Withdraws from Short Course World Championships Due to Illness

The German swimmer, who won gold in Paris, cites severe symptoms as the reason for his sudden departure from Budapest.

Lukas Märtens, 22, announced his withdrawal from the Short Course World Championships in Budapest due to health concerns.
The swimmer reported experiencing a night of throat pain, coughing, and body aches, leading to his decision to return home early.
Märtens had been scheduled to compete in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter freestyle individual event later this week.
The German Swimming Federation quoted Märtens as saying it would not make sense to compete in his current condition, despite his usual willingness to push through minor discomforts.
Märtens previously secured a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics, solidifying his status as one of Germany's top swimmers.