Jeremy Desplanches Registers Victory in 400 Medley During Golden Tour
While the Japan Open served as an opportunity for that country’s athletes to get in some high-quality racing over the weekend, France gave its athletes – and several other Europeans – the chance to sharpen their skills at the FFN Golden Tour stop in Nice. Highlighting the action on Friday was Switzerland’s Jeremy Desplanches.
Racing against Greece’s Apostolos Papastamos in the 400-meter individual medley, Desplanches claimed a narrow triumph by touching the wall in 4:15.26, slightly ahead of the 4:15.81 by Papastamos. For Desplanches, the victory was the latest step toward medal contention in the medley events – especially the 200 distance – at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.
In sprint action, Frenchwoman Melanie Henique was the lone athlete to crack the 25-second barrier in the 50 freestyle, as she finished in 24.90. That performance handed Henique a decision over Charlotte Bonnet (25.18), who will race her best event, the 200 freestyle, later in the weekend. In the men’s 50 butterfly, first place went to France’s Maxime Grousset in 23.38.
Greece’s Anna Ntountounaki prevailed in the 100 butterfly by more than two seconds, on the strength of a 57.86 clocking. Meanwhile, in the men’s 100 backstroke, three men dipped under 54 seconds, led by Yohann Brouard in 53.60. He was followed by Mewen Tomac (53.97) and Greece’s Apostolos Christou (53.99).
Reigning Olympic champion Katinka Hosszu was the winner of the 200 individual medley in 2:13.83 while the 50 breaststroke events went to Belgium’s Florine Gaspard (31.29) and France’s Theo Bussiere (28.36).
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