France Announces 20-Strong Squad For European Short-Course Championships
A 20-strong team of 11 men and nine women will represent France at the European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania, in December.
The squad was announced on Sunday evening following the conclusion of the French Short-Course Championships in Angers which saw five national records fall and several swimmers come away with an armful of medals.
Maxime Grousset won five golds and a silver as well as setting a 100 fly record of 49.24 with Beryl Gastaldello also claiming a quintet of titles plus a new 100 back mark of 56.18.
Charlotte Bonnet won four golds and a silver and set a 200 breaststroke standard of 2:20.64, Mewen Tomac won the backstroke treble that featured a 200 mark of 1:49.21 amid four titles and Anastasia Kirpichnikova claimed the 400-800-1500 sweep, with a 15:33.42 standard in the longest race.
They’ll be joined on the France team by Florent Manaudou – 11 years after his five-gold haul at the 2012 European short-course in Chartres – Yohann Ndoye-Brouard and 18-year-old Pacome Bricout among a strong distance contingent.
The depth of women’s backstroke in France was on display in Angers with European 50 champion Analia Pigree, Pauline Mahieu – sixth in the 100 at the World Championships in Fukuoka – European relay medallist Emma Terebo and European junior silver medallist Mary-Ambre Moluh all set to board the plane.
The meet from 5-10 December provides an opportunity for racing in international waters with a home Olympics on the horizon and given the presence of David Popovici, there will be a large, passionate crowd in attendance.
It will conclude a fine year for Grousset who won 100 fly gold at the World Championships in Fukuoka plus 50 fly and 100 free bronze.
Coached by Michel Chrétien in Paris, the 24-year-old has a mixed 4×50 free bronze from the 2019 European Short-Course Championships in Glasgow, a haul that looks set to expand in Romania.
Following his final win in the 100 free, Grousset said through the French Federation:
“It’s (been) really good this week. I put in place things I prepared in training with Michel.
“It’s going well despite the fatigue and what you have to remember is that I won and that I’m happy.
“What I do to motivate myself is that I want to do the best possible and all those little things that will make the difference for the Games.
“I wanted six titles in these championships, I always want more and that’s the game.”
France Team For The European Short-Course Championships
Men:
David Aubry
Pacome Bricout
Logan Fontaine
Roman Fuchs
Maxime Grousset
Stanislas Huille
Damien Joly
Florent Manaudou
Emilien Mattenet
Yohann Ndoye-Brouard
Mewen Tomac
Women:
Charlotte Bonnet
Beryl Gastaldello
Lara Grangeon de Villele
Anastasia Kirpichnikova
Pauline Mahieu
Mary-Ambre Moluh
Analia Pigree
Emma Terebo
Lucile Tessariol