Nicolas Granger continues to expand his repertoire in Masters swimming, notching his first short course world records in the 400 free and 200 breast to go along with a new mark in the 100 breast at the French Masters nationals.
Granger, 48, posted two world records on Friday in Rennes, starting with a stunning 4:03.81 in the 400 free. That took down the world record in the 45-49 age group of 4:05.10 by Italy’s Fabio Calmasini that was set in 2013.
Later in the day, Granger took down another Italian’s world record, this time Alberto Montini’s 2:20.41 in the 200 breast. Splitting 31.02, 35.34, 35.76, 36.79, Granger obliterated the record with a 2:18.91.
On Saturday, Granger went after his world record of 1:04.03 in the 100 breast, swum almost exactly one year ago. He not only went under 1:04, but had the 1:03 barrier in his sights with a 1:03.23. Granger tried to make it a record trifecta in the breaststrokes, but his 29.11 in the 50 was shy of Italian Rico Rolli’s record of 28.87.
With those three record swims, Granger now owns the short course Masters world records in nine events in the 45-49 age group. The 100 free (51.30), 200 free (1:52.87), 100 IM (57.68), 200 IM (2:04.64) and 400 IM (4:31.36) were set in 2012. The 100 fly (56.66) record was swum last year.
Granger, who was named a Swimming World Magazine World Masters Swimmer of the Year last year, is headed to the United States next month to compete in the Arena Pro Swim Series in Mesa, followed by the U.S. Masters Swimming national championships the following week.
Full results, French Masters national championships