He may only be in his mid-twenties, but German open water swimmer Rob Frederik Muffels has already achieved a lot in his athletic career. A European bronze medallist and World Junior gold medallist, he has been voted Athlete of the Year in his native country. He has represented Germany at multiple championships and has qualified to do so again at the Tokyo Olympics. Along with his partner, fellow swimmer and Olympic gold medallist Sharon van Rouwendaal, he is regarded as one of his generation’s most promising swimmers.
Hailing from Magdeburg, a German city on the Elba river, Muffels first took up swimming at his parent’s behest (they wanted him to be safe in the water and his older brother could already swim). Muffels quickly took to it and, today, swims around 80km in an average week. Aged 18, he won his first medal: gold at the World Junior Open Water Swimming Championship, triumphing over a 7.5km course. Upon graduating to senior competitions, he added to his medal cabinet with silver and bronze medals at three consecutive FINA/HOSA Marathon Swimming World Cups and World Series, two annual events that form the centre of the open swimming calendar.
Taking bronze in the 10km open water event at the 2019 World Aquatic Championships in South Korea (less than two seconds behind the winner, countryman and friendly rival Florian Wellbrock) ensured that Muffels qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. With a track record and training regime such as his, he’ll be one of the favourites to take his place on the podium.
