Paris Olympics, Day 6 Prelims: Unique Line In 50 Free History Beckons For Florent Manaudou
After five days of racing, La Defense Arena has witnessed the greatest of spectacles with the prospect of more history about to unfurl with another Frenchman as protagonist.
Florent Manaudou and Gary Hall Jr are the only men to have won three Olympic medals in the 50 free since it was introduced to the Olympic programme in 1988.
Hall Jr won silver at Atlanta 1996 and tied for gold with Anthony Ervin at Sydney 2000 before winning the title outright at Athens 2004.
Manaudou won gold at London 2012, four years after Amaury Leveaux and Alain Bernard were the first Frenchmen to make the Olympic podium with silver and bronze at Beijing 2008.
Florent Manaudou: Photo Courtesy: Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
At 21, he was the youngest man in the field and roared to a then textile WR of 21.34 from lane seven in the British capital.
Four years later at Rio 2016, Manaudou was pipped to gold by 0.01 as Ervin won the title 16 years after topping the podium at Sydney 2000.
He put swimming on hold for a while to concentrate on softball before returning to once more take silver – but this time a joyous one – in Tokyo to move level with Hall Jr.
On Thursday, he began his quest to move clear of the American and write his own line in the record books with a fourth medal in the one-length event.
- World Record: Cesar Cielo, BRA – 20.91 (2009)
- Olympic Record: Caeleb Dressel, USA – 21.07 (2021)
- Tokyo Olympic Champion: Caeleb Dressel, USA – 21.07
- Meet Results
- 2024 Paris Olympics Meet Page
Tom Fannon set an Irish record of 21.79, taking 0.02 from Shane Ryan’s time at the European Championships in June, to head the sixth heat to herald the arrival of the 21s.
Manaudou got a huge ovation from the crowd ahead of his heat and roared down the pool in 21.54, raising an arm to acknowledge the raucous cheers.
Cameron McEvoy: Photo Courtesy: Swimming Australia
Cameron McEvoy went 21.32 in the final heat to top the prelims ahead of Jordan Crooks (21.54), Manaudou (21.54) Italian Lorenzo Zazzeri (21.64) and Ben Proud (21.70).
Defending champion Caeleb Dressel squeaked through in 21.91 in joint-13th alongside Diogo Ribeiro with Josh Liendo 15th in 21.92 as Frenchman Maxime Grousset claimed the 16th and final semi spot in 21.94.
McEvoy elevated himself to fourth all-time behind WR holder Cesar Cielo (20.91), Fred Bousquet (20.94) and Caeleb Dressel (21.04) when he posted 21.06 to claim the title at the Fukuoka worlds in 2023.
Thursday’s prelim was the Australian’s first race of the week and he described the wait as “terrible,” saying: “It was honestly almost as hard as the training itself. I blocked out all social media. I changed phones. I’m just glad it’s here.”
He added: “This morning was good. Really happy with the time. Felt really nice. Three rounds, it’s all about that energy management and all that for this morning and tonight and recovery by tomorrow. I’ve got to take it one round at a time.”
Proud has won every title in the long and short-course pools bar the Olympics and has yet to figure on the podium after finishing fourth at Rio 2016 and a desolate joint-fifth three years ago in Tokyo.
The Team GB athlete told Swimming World ahead of Paris 2024 that he felt like “a greyhound waiting to be let go”.
After winning the penultimate prelim, the 29-year-old said: “Nerves have taken control of themselves. Just from years of experience, it’s not the same as three years ago, eight years ago.
“This very much is exciting and with the crowd you’re kind of embracing that. This morning was very much leave nothing to chance, do what I need to do to make it through but as soon as I knew I was in control, I could switch off a little.
“I’ve just had a great conversation with Cam (McEvoy) about building through rounds and playing the game a little bit. Just to make it through to the final conserving energy. I feel good, I don’t feel like I need to sit down now so I’m happy.”
Ben Proud: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Proud sits fifth all-time with his British record of 21.11 that has stood since 2018. He was desolate though in Tokyo after finishing joint fifth alongside Kristian Gkolomeev in 21.72.
He spiralled and his mental wellbeing suffered with Proud on the brink of retirement. He went on to win the world short-course title in Abu Dhabi in December 2021 and the following year became the first man to simultaneously hold the world long-course, Commonwealth and European titles.
Of the contrast between Thursday’s prelim and Tokyo, he said: “Completely different. I think three years ago I was sitting 13th and suddenly I was like okay I need to completely change my strategy. Whereas now training has gone well, I’m in the right place so it’s just a matter of getting things done tonight and coming back tomorrow and really switching on.”
- EVENT PAGE
- SCHEDULE
- VENUE
- STREAMING INFO
- DAY 1 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 1 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 2 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 2 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 3 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 3 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 4 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 4 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 5 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 5 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 6 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 6 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 7 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 7 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 8 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 8 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 9 FINALS RESULTS