French trials: Emma Terebo Sets National 100m Back Record & Leon Marchand Among Five To Book Paris Tickets
Emma Terebo set a national 100m backstroke record and Leon Marchand also ensured he’d be competing in front of a home crowd come Paris 2024.
The pair were among five swimmers to book their place on the team at next month’s Olympic Games with Beryl Gastaldello, Yohann Ndoye Brouard and Mewen Tomac joining them following their respective races at the trials in Chartres.
It brought to eight the number of swimmers to have booked their places on the French squad for a home Games with Marie Wattel, David Aubry and Anastasia Kirpichnikova all getting inside the cut on Sunday.
Terebo became the first Frenchwoman to break the 59 barrier when she went 58.79, splitting 28.64/30.15 to lower Pauline Mahieu’s previous standard of 59.30.
Gastaldello booked her spot in 59.17 with Mary-Ambre Moluh (59.29) and Mahieu (59.64) also going inside the cut, three women also inside the old record.
Marchand – who set the 400IM WR of 4:02.50 en-route to gold at the 2023 World Championships – went 4:10.62 to guarantee his place in the French capital.
The five-time world champion will be in the spotlight come the Games as he performs in front of an expectant French crowd.
The Bob Bowman-trained athlete finished more than five seconds ahead of Emilien Mattenet who was second in 4:16.22, well outside the cut.
There was a real tussle between Tomac and Ndoye Brouard in the 100m backstroke.
The pair couldn’t be separated at the 50, with both turning in 25.85, and although Tomac edged away, his teammate and rival came back in the final metres.
Tomac, who won the 50/100 back double at the European Short-Course Championships in December, got the touch by 0.02 in 52.88 to 52.90 with both men well inside the cut of 53.74.
Hadrien Salvan was 0.46 outside the 200 free cut in 1:46.72 with Lucile Tessariol winning the women’s title in 1:59.29 while Cyrielle Duhamel was well outside the 400IM cut of 4:38.53 in 4:40.96.