The French Elite Nationals just wrapped up in Limoges, France, and while we await official confirmation from France’s new National Technical Director (DTN), Jacques Favre, here is the list of women and men who made the cuts for Kazan during the week-long event.
While everyone had high expectations of Nice’s Charlotte Bonnet, who did, indeed win all five of the events she entered, the undisputed star on the women’s side of the meet was Marseille’s Béryl Gastaldello. The Texas A&M freshman swam six events, making the podium in each of them. She won three gold medals (50 back, 100 back, 50 fly), two silver (100 free, 100 fly), and one bronze (50 free), and broke the French record in the 50 back. Gastaldello earned more tickets to Kazan (five) than anyone else in the French championships, woman or man.
Women Qualifiers – unofficial
- Anna Santamans (Nice) – 50 free
- Charlotte Bonnet (Nice) – 100 free, 200 free, 100 breast, 200 IM
- Béryl Gastaldello (Marseille) – 100 free, 50 back, 100 back, 50 fly, 100 fly
- Coralie Balmy (Mulhouse/Antibes) – 200 free, 400 free, 800 free
- Mathilde Cini (Valence/Paris-INSEP) – 50 back, 100 back
- Mélanie Henique (Amiens/Marseille) – 50 fly,
- Marie Wattel (Nice) – 100 fly
- Lara Grangeon (Calédoniens/Font-Romeu) – 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM
- Fantine Lesaffre (Mulhouse) – 400 IM
On the men’s side, Jérémy Stravius of Amiens led the way with three qualifications. There were some great performances during the week, but several disappointments as well. Damien Joly of Antibes won all three distance freestyles, notching new personal bests and earning two berths for Kazan. Yannick Agnel won the 200 free in a world-leading time, as Florent Manaudou did in the 50. It was a tough week for Frédérick Bousquet of Marseille, though, who after time off to repair an injured shoulder with surgery last year, had been swimming quite well leading up to Limoges. His second-place finish in the 50 fly missed the Kazan barrier by .25, then on Saturday night he fell ill with food poisoning and had to pull out of Sunday’s 50 free, his main event. Still, Bousquet is eyeing Rio in 2016, so his focus is a bit longer-term.
Men Qualifiers – unofficial
- Florent Manaudou (Marseille) – 50 free, 50 fly
- Clément Mignon (Marseille) – 50 free
- Jérémy Stravius (Amiens) – 100 free, 50 back, 100 back
- Fabien Gilot (Marseille) – 100 free
- Yannick Agnel (Mulhouse) – 200 free
- Grégory Mallet (Marseille) – 200 free
- Damien Joly (Antibes) – 800 free, 1500 free
- Joris Bouchaut (Toulouse) – 800 free
- Camille Lacourt (Marseille) – 50 back, 100 back
- Benjamin Stasiulis (Marseille) – 200 back
- Giacomo Perez Dortona (Marseille) – 100 breast
- Thomas Dalia (Antibes) – 200 breast
- Mehdy Metella (Marseille) – 100 fly
They announces a slightly extended selection for the world championship for the relays: it means Fanny Deberghes as an alternate breastroker, Ophelie Cyrielle-Etienne as a 5th for 800 free relay, Lorys Bourelly (5th 200 free too) and MARTIN Anouchka if the 400 women free relay are qualified too.
The minima were really more relax this year with the new DTN, Lesaffre for example would never have been qualified under Christian Donzé.
Anne Lepesant, Excellent job with that spreadsheet of all the medallists, shading all the Kazan qualifiers! C’est magnifique!
And now I’m running to the Fox and Hounds to watch the 2e half of Le Classico. Allez l’OM!
Please don’t fall into the dark side of the french sports, the Ligue 1!