Beryl Gastaldello & Charlotte Bonnet Speed To National Records At French Short-Course Championships
Beryl Gastaldello and Charlotte Bonnet sped to national records in the 100m backstroke and 200m breaststroke respectively at the French Short-Course Championships in Angers.
It brings to five the number of French standards set at the four-day meet following Maxime Grousset (100 fly), Anastasia Kirpichnikova (1500 free) and Mewen Tomac (200 back) on the opening night.
The event – which concludes on Sunday – serves as qualification for the French team for the European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania from 5-10 December.
Gastaldello split 27.14/29.04 to stop the clock in 56.18 and cut 0.26 from the French standard of 56.40 that stood to Analia Pigree since November 2021.
The 28-year-old was followed by Pauline Mahieu (57.35), Pigree (57.55) and Mary-Ambre Moluh (57.62), all four women inside the qualification time of 57.67.
Gastaldello – whose first trip to a senior international podium was back at the 2012 European Short-Course Championships in Chartres – returned for the 50 free where she comfortably claimed the title in 23.84.
Saturday’s double made it four titles so far following wins in the 50 fly and 100 free.
Pigree was second in 24.55 with Lison Nowaczyk completing the podium in 24.68.
Bonnet Lowers Own Record; Two More For Grousset
Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Bonnet took 0.70secs off her own 2:21.34 record from November 2022 as she booked her third swim in Romania along with the 200 free and 200IM.
Splits: 31.62/1:07.35 (35.73)/1:43.98 (36.63)/2:20.64 (36.66)
Lucie Vasquez – winner of the 50 and 100 – was outside the cut in 2:23.86 with Justine Delmas adding the 200 age group record to the 100 in 2:23.86.
Grousset continued the form that had already brought him three titles and a French 100 fly record coming into Saturday with victory in the 50 fly.
The 24-year-old – who won bronze in the long-course pool at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka – clocked 22.34, well within the 22.68 cut.
He was followed home by Stanislas Huille (22.55) and Nicolas Vermorel (22.85).
Grousset returned to take silver in the 200 free, clocking 1:42.41 behind Roman Fuchs (1:42.16) with both men inside the cut.
Yann Le Goff was third in 1:44.17.
Kirpichnikova Completes Distance Double
Kirpichnikova added the 800 free title to the 1500 she won in national record time on Thursday evening, winning by 14.66 secs in 8:14.72 to book another swim in Bucharest.
Anastasia Kirpichnikova: Photo Courtesy: KMSP/Stephane Kempinaire
Valentine Leclerq was a distant second in 8:29.38.
A 27.94 final 50 steered Emilien Mattenet to victory in the 400IM and a place on the plane to Romania, touching in 4:08.12 to go 0.62 inside the cut.
Switzerland’s Jeremy Desplanches came past backstroke specialist Yohann Ndoye-Brouard on the final 50 take second in 4:09.82 to 4:09.96.
Juliette Marchand won the 200 fly in 2:08.18 ahead of Lara Grangeon de Villele (2:08.54).
Carl Aitkaci took the men’s 100 breaststroke in 57.89 with Kacper Pastula in second (58.62).