Driven by recent memories of infuriating events at the world titles in Roberval, Germany's open water ace Thomas Lurz raced in pants (not jammers as at first stated, but point no doubt taken by those who govern the sport) to his third successive and fourth overall 10km European crown in Lake Balaton on the opening day of action at the continent's showcase event.

The 30-year-old from Würzburg claimed victory in the Olympic marathon distance over Valerio Cleri (ITA) and Evgeny Drattsev (RUS). In millpond conditions and in balmier climes (23C in the water) than those he encountered in Roberval (15-17C), where the chill was doubled by a controversy over suits, Lurz covered the course in 1hr 54.22.5, 2.3 seconds up on the Italian world champ, with the Russian a further 1.8sec back. Just outside the medals was the champion's teammate Christian Reichert, on 1:54:31.0.

"I knew that I was the quickest going into the last 500m and certainly had a medal chance," Lurz told reporters in Hungary after winning in bare chest. A rare sight in a sport that still allows bodysuits (textile only) to be worn (and will continue to do so t account for conditions of the sport) ... and they were worn by Cleri and four other swimmers in the warm lake.

For those who'd forgotten what a swimmer's chest looks like, you can check Thomas Lurz out at Welt Online.

Lurz was not allowed to wear the suit he wanted in Roberval because it had a zipper and despite the fact that he had worn that suit a few weeks before at a world cup event in Portugal on the advice of the FINA office, according to the German champion. The Portuguese organisers also sought official advice and were told by the FINA technical committee that zippers were not a problem, when in fact zippers are specifically forbidden under FINA suit rules.

"At that time my sixth place [in Roberval] had already riled me ... I already wanted revenge," said Lurz with a nod to the demand he shares with many others in the sport for FINA and other governing bodies to insist on and enforce fairness in competition.

Lurz's attention now shifts to the 5km tomorrow, when the 9-times world champion will meet Cleri and his constant rivals in open water once more.

The top 5 in the 10km, Lake Balaton:

• 1 Thomas Lurz (GER) 1:54:22.5
• 2 Valerio Cleri (ITA) 1:54:24.8
• 3 Evgeny Drattsev (RUS) 1:54:26.6 
• 4 Christian Reichert (GER) 1:54:31.0 
• 5 Francisco Hervas (ESP) 1:54:33.0

Women:

Ekaterina Seliverstova took the women's 5km in 1:02:34.7 to place Russia on the medals table, with Greece claiming silver and bronze courtesy of Kalliopi Araouzou (1:02:37.3) and Marianna Lymperta 1:02:41.3.