Two weeks ago, Frenchman Nicolas Granger swam faster than the existing Masters world record in the long course 200 individual medley for the 45-49 age group, but it did not count because it was not swum in a sanctioned Masters meet.
Granger, 48, took care of that situation in Zaragoza, Spain, participating in the country’s Masters national championships. Swimming a 2:10.24, he smashed his own world record of 2:11.22 to almost break his mark by a full second. His former record had stood since 2012. At the French Level 2 meet two weeks ago, Granger posted a 2:11.14.
Granger’s splits in Spain
Butterfly: 27.40
Backstroke: 33.54
Breaststroke: 37.80
Freestyle: 31.50
Notably, Granger’s record in the 45-49 age group is faster than Alberto Montini’s world record of 2:10.63 in the 40-44 age group. Granger took some time away from the pool in his early 40s to recover from cancer, and has returned with renewed gusto. He was voted one of Swimming World Magazine’s World Masters Swimmers of the Year in 2014 and 2015.