After winning a gold medal in the 5km open water race, German swimming star Thomas Lurz has now picked up another gold medal in the 10km open water race.

"I am very proud to be double world champion. My first gold was a big joy but the second is a real achievement," said Lurz. "My feelings changed throughout the race. One moment I was thinking I can do this, the next I was thinking I was too tired."

American swimmer Andrew Gemmell came in second, with his team-mate Francis Crippen finishing third in front of Italian swimmer Valerio Cleri.

Another Italian swimmer Simone Ercoli had to be taken away on a stretcher to an ambulance, apparently suffering from exhaustion.

Lurz finished the course in a time of 1hr 52min 06.9sec to win his third 10km title.

"During the 10km you have a lot of time to think, it's only when you see the blue board that you stop thinking and start giving everything you have," Lurz said.

He now has eight gold, two silver and two bronze medals, making him the most successful swimmer of all time in in open water events.

av/Reuters/AFP
Editor: Susan Houlton