The present invention relates to a process for the production of water-absorbing polymer structures, comprising the process steps of providing of an aqueous monomer solution comprising a polymerizable, monoethylenically unsaturated monomer (α1) carrying acid groups or a salt thereof; free-radical polymerization of the aqueous monomer solution to give a polymer gel, drying of the optionally comminuted polymer gel to give water-absorbing polymer structures, and surface post-crosslinking of the optionally ground and sieved water-absorbing polymer structures, wherein a thermoplastic polymer is added to the aqueous monomer solution before process step ii) or during process step ii), preferably before process step ii), or II) the polymer gel after process step ii) and before process step iv) or during process step iv), preferably before process step iv), or III) the water-absorbing polymer structure after process step iv).