French Trials: Leon Marchand Books Centre Lane In 400IM; Ndoye Brouard & Tomac Set To Tussle
Leon Marchand made his first appearance at the French Olympic trials in Chartres where swimmers are looking to book a place on the team for a home Games.
Marchand set the fastest time in the prelims of the 400IM in which he is the two-time world champion and world record holder in 4:02.50.
The five-time world champion eased to a time of 4:14.68 with Algerian Jaouad Syed the next swiftest in 4:22.59 and Emilien Mattenet the second Frenchman in 4:23.15.
Cyrielle Duhamel leads the way in the women’s event in 4:48.31.
Yohann Ndoye Brouard: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
The men’s 100m backstroke appears to be set for a real tussle between Yohann Ndoye Brouard and Mewen Tomac.
Ndoye Brouard was fifth at the 2023 World Championships despite missing months of training after he underwent surgery following a skiing accident that led to him having nine metal pins inserted into his elbow.
He has already tasted success on the international stage with two European bronze medals in the two-length race.
Tomac won the 50/100 double at the European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania, in December 2023.
It was Ndoye Brouard though who led into the final, clocking 53.25 to 53.54 with both men well inside the cut for Paris.
Antoine Herlem was third through in 54.37.
Women’s backstroke also has strength in depth in France.
Mary-Ambre Moluh, European short-cousrse bronze medallist, booked lane four in 1:00.75 ahead of Analia Pigree, European 50 back champion (1:00.90), Emma Terebo (1:01.07) and French record-holder Pauline Mahieu (1:01.33) with the quartet separated by 0.58.
The A cut for Paris is 59.99.
Pauline Mahieu: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Wissam-Amazigh Yebba booked lane four in the men’s 200 free in 1:47.77, 0.05 ahead of Rafael Fente Damers (1:47.82) with Roman Fuchs next home in 1:48.21.
Anastasia Kirpichnikova, who qualified in the 400 on Sunday, led the way in the 200 in 2:00.60 with Assia Touati booking lane five in 2:00.86.
Kirpichnikova was one of three swimmers to book a place at a home Games next month, along with Marie Wattel (100 fly) and David Aubry (400 free).