The French swimming federation is sending a strong squad to the world championships in Kazan, Russia, this August to equal or improve on the nine medals won at the previous worlds. Charlotte Bonnet and Beryl Gastaldello will be the busiest athletes on the team, each earning qualification in four or more individual events.
Bonnet won five events last week at the French nationals in Limoge and will swim four of those events this summer (100 and 200 free, 100 breast, 200 IM) and will likely be on several relays. Gastaldello won both sprint backstrokes and the 50 butterfly, in addition to placing second in the 100 free and 100 fly to qualify for five individual events.
Camille Lacourt and Yannick Agnel are returning to defend their world championship titles. Lacourt won the 50 back in 2013 while Agnel took the 200 free. One of the French medalists from 2013 will not be in attendance, as Camille Muffat retired last year and was killed in a helicopter crash in March.
Besides Gastaldello, another name on the French roster might be familiar to U.S. college swimming fans. Thomas Dahlia, who completed his collegiate eligibility for the University of Louisville two weeks ago at the NCAA championships, won the 200 breast to earn a spot on his first world championship team.
France’s world championship roster
Women
Coralie Balmy – 200, 400 and 800 freestyle
Charlotte Bonnet – 100 free, 200 free, 200 IM, 100 breast
Mathilde Cini – 50 and 100 back
Fanny Deberghes – 400 medley relay
Ophelie-Cyrielle Etienne – 800 free relay
Margaux Fabre – 400 free relay, 800 free relay
Beryl Gastaldello – 50 and 100 butterfly, 50 and 100 backstroke, 100 freestyle
Lara Grangeon – 200 and 400 IM, 200 fly
Cloe Hache – 400 free relay, 800 free relay
Melanie Henique – 50 butterfly
Fantine Lesaffre – 400 IM
Anouchka Martin – 400 free relay
Anna Santamans – 50 free
Marie Wattel – 100 fly
Men
Yannick Agnel – 200 free
Joris Bouchat – 800 free
Lorys Bourelly – 800 free relay
Thomas Dahlia – 200 breast
Fabien Gilot – 100 free
Damien Joly – 800 and 1500 free
Camille Lacourt – 50 and 100 back
Gregory Mallet – 200 free
Florent Manaudou – 50 fly, 50 free
Mehdy Metella – 100 fly
Clement Mignon – 400 free relay, 800 free relay
Giacomo Perez Dortona – 100 breast
Jordan Pothain – 800 free relay
Benjamin Stasiulis – 200 backstroke
Jeremy Stravius – 50 and 100 back, 100 free