2024 French Elite Championships
Hello friends, Day 1 of the French Elite Championships is just around the corner. So much for my lack of French, but I'll try again tomorrow and sum it up in two sentences. If you still can't get enough of the US Olympic Trials swimming news, I hope these exciting races will pique your interest.
But before I get to that, I need to talk about today's match: 100m Fly Saw Preliminary Marie Wattel do Marie Wattel She comfortably took the lead by one second; national record holder Wattel finished in 58.74. She needs to shave one more second off her time to qualify under 57.92. She hasn't broken 58.5 yet this season, but she did run 57.34 at France's qualifiers last summer, which could put her on the next Olympic team.
The tight start times for the 100m breaststroke and the thin field make it difficult, but not impossible, to qualify for the event. Tonight's top seeds are: Antoine Marc That's nearly three-quarters of a second, and if he can do it again he'll be within striking distance of the qualifying time.
Anastasia Kirpichnikova Leading the way in the 400m freestyle, the Russian 2021 Olympian is said to be getting better and better as the distance increases, and is aiming to represent France at her home Olympics. Lucille Tessariol and Anna Egorova Both are in the 4:17 position and will run alongside Kirpitchinkova tonight. David Aubrey Aubrey is aiming to be selected for France's Olympic team once again. He nearly finished in the same time in this morning's swim but will need to shave nearly three seconds off his time to fall below the qualifying standard.
Like Wattel in 100 Butterflies, Charlotte BonnetAs the national record holder in the 100m breaststroke, she is about a second off the qualifying time, but the qualifying time is more than half a second faster than her national record, so she will need to set a significant personal best to qualify individually in the event. France has already qualified for the Olympic medley relay, so the winner will likely earn a spot on the national team roster.
The day will close with the non-Olympic event, the 50 butterfly, which will be a great barometer for both French stars. Florent Manaudou and Maxime Gourset The swimmers are looking to start the week with some impressive swims, with Manaudou's time of 22.87 this morning just 0.02 seconds faster than 2023 bronze medallist Grouse's time, which promises to be an emotional end to the day.
Women's 100m Butterfly – Final
- World Record: 55.18 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
- World Junior Record: 56.20 – Claire Curzan USA (2021)
- French record: 56.14- Marie Wattel (2022)
- 2021 Winning Time: 57.37 – Marie Wattel
- Olympic Qualification Time: 57.92
Top 8
Men's 100m Breaststroke Final
- World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2019)
- World Junior Record: 59.01 – Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)
- French record: 58.64 – Hugh Dubosc (2009)
- 2021 Winning Time: 1:00.25 – Théo Bussière
- Olympic Qualification Time: 59.79
Top 8
Women's 400m Freestyle – Final
- World Record: 3:55.38 – Ariarne Titmus, Australia (2023)
- World Junior Record: 3:56.46 – Summer McIntosh, Canada (2023)
- French Record: 4:01.13 – Camille Mouffat (2012)
- 2021 Winning Time: 4:15.35 – Fantine Lesaffre
- Olympic Qualifying Time: 4:07.90
Top 8
Men's 400m Freestyle – Final
- World Record: 3:40.07 – Paul Biedermann, Germany (2009)
- World Junior Record: 3:44.31 – Peter Mitson, BUL (2023)
- French Record: 3:43.85 – Yannick Agnel (2011)
- 2021 Winning Time: 3:47.34 – Joris Buschot
- Olympic Qualifying Time: 3:47.91
Top 8
Women's 100m Breaststroke – Final
- World Record: 1:04.13 – Lily King, USA (2017)
- World Junior Record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilütite, LTU (2013)
- French record: 1:07.54 Charlotte Bonnet (2023)
- 2021 Winning Time: 1:08.76 – Fanny Debelgues
- Olympic Qualifying Time: 1:06.79
Top 8
Men's 50m Butterfly Final
- World Record: 22.27 – Andriy Govorov, UKR (2018)
- World Junior Record: 22.96 – Diogo Ribeiro, Portugal (2022)
- French record: 22.72 – Maxime Gourset
- 2021 Winning Time: 23.55 – Tomas Pilon
- Olympic Qualification Time: N/A
Top 8
