It was a faultless performance from the Hungarian as he won each of the three rounds of racing to ultimately take gold for a second time this weekend in Ibiza.

His sprint capabilities shone through last season and continue to do so in 2026, with his gold medal today securing his third consecutive World Cup win in the 3km Knockout Sprint event - dating back to the Setubal leg in June last year.

The 22-year-old was resolute in his winning performance on day one of competition, and said following his 10km triumph that he didn’t have ‘big expectations’ ahead of today’s race as he had ‘already achieved his goal’ in Ibiza.

Ever-humble in victory, he said after his race: “I’m very happy - two wins in one weekend is a great feeling. Today I just wanted to perform well again, and I’m really pleased that I could do that.

“I think I was also a bit lucky today. I wasn’t boxed in at the start, which gave me the chance to move straight to the front. I’m always proud when I can be on the podium and compete for the win, but now it’s about going home, staying focused, and preparing for the next races and the European Championships.”

Tactics are a necessity in this racing format, and Betlehem had the best start and underwater of the field in the final - giving himself an advantage that no one could quite chase down.

“I had a clear plan going into the race. I watched the women’s race and saw that the left side was important, so I knew I needed to win my heat to have the best position for the next round.

“The goal was to control the 1000m so I could start the final 500m from the front. I wanted a strong start, a good dive and underwater, and if I could turn first, then try to hold that position to the finish.

“The biggest challenge today was actually staying warm between races. Being in the first heat meant I had more time out of the water, and keeping my body and muscles ready was difficult. Thankfully, I have a great team around me who helped me manage that, which made a big difference.

“Starting in the first heat can be an advantage - you get more recovery time and the first choice of position. With the right support, it can really work in your favour, and today it did for me.

“I really like the knockout sprint format. It’s exciting because every round is different, and it’s always unpredictable and engaging for spectators. I think it’s great for the sport, and if it’s ever included in the Olympics, I’d definitely come back for it.”

Looking to the Season Ahead

With no World Championships or Olympic Games featuring in this year’s calendar, Betlehem aims to race as much as possible to build towards his goals. 

“This season is about consistency - racing often, getting on the podium as much as possible, and continuing to improve.

“The long-term focus is clearly on Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Everything now is about learning, adapting to different conditions, and building towards that.

“I’m planning to race the full World Cup circuit, gain experience, and keep improving. And yes, being ranked world number one gives me confidence - it’s something I remind myself of when I need that extra push in training.”

Paltrinieri Secures 16th World Cup Medal

Italy’s most decorated open water swimmer and five-time Olympic medallist, Gregorio Paltrinieri, is no stranger to the world stage, and stood on his 16th World Cup podium today.

Having qualified fastest from his heat and second into the final, he fought hard throughout the race and delivered an extremely exciting battle between the leaders.

Having taken a different line to Betlehem heading into the finishing shoot, the result was far from decided right up until the final stretch - where Betlehem found another gear and powered to the pad first.

Speaking on the race, he said: “Today, I was in it [the race] from start to finish. Yesterday in the 10km, I felt okay - I was leading early and pushing the pace at times - but I didn’t leave enough for the last lap.

“Today, I was more tactical. Across the three races, I found places to keep my stamina in reserve and use it more when I needed it. Even with experience, sometimes you give it a go and see how it plays out.”

As a successful pool and open water swimmer, Paltrinieri touched on his plans for both for this year: “It’s true that I’ve become more of an open water swimmer, but for this year, I look to race more, both in open water and in the pool.

“They obviously complement each other very well, and having that extra quickness and speed reserve from the 800m and 1500m racing always helps - especially in the knockout sprints.”

Olivier Matches Bronze from 2025 Edition

Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier matched his result from Ibiza in this event from 2025, winning bronze to take his World Cup medal tally to a staggering 22.

Olivier has featured on World Cup podiums since 2015, and is affectionately known as ‘the king of consistency’ having stayed in the mix of the top world rankings for so many years. He currently sits in third position in the overall rankings, and previously won the overall leader trophy in 2024.

After finishing sixth in yesterday’s 10km, Olivier’s racing schedule this weekend is not over yet, as he is one of a selection of swimmers staying in Ibiza to race the 5km event as part of the Spanish National Championships.

Fourth place finisher, Logan Fontaine, said post race: “It was a great race. Of course I’d like to be on the podium, but I love this type of racing and this race (format). It adds something to open water and complements what we do in the 10kms.”

Andrea Filadelli - yesterday’s 10km bronze medallist - rounded out the top five, while Italy’s Matteo Diodato was in sixth and a stellar performance from last year’s World Cup Junior Leader, Leonardo Brandt De Macedo, saw him touching home in seventh.

Spanish National Championships

The Spanish National Open Water Championships are running alongside the Ibiza stop of the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup, and will continue until tomorrow. 700 masters and junior athletes are competing across 3km Knockout Sprint, 5km, and 7.5km races.

Many World Cup athletes are electing to stay and race as the event doubles as a qualification opportunity for European Championships for select nations. For more information, click here.