Yohann Ndoye Brouard scorched to 52.97 in the 100 backstroke with Florent Manaudou and Jeremy Desplanches also delivering standout swims on day one of the FFN Golden Tour in Marseille.
Manaudou went 21.72 in the 50 free while Desplanches became the first man to go inside 1:58 in the 200IM in 2021 and Melanie Henique clocked 25.47 in the 50 fly.
It was a huge PB for Ndoye Brouard who split 25.79/27.18 to go top of the rankings in a time that would have been good enough for bronze at the 2018 European Championships as well as sixth at the 2019 World Championships.
Mewen Tomac was second in 53.19 – after a heat PB of 53.10 – ahead of Apostolos Christou (53.71).
Ndoye Brouard – 20 – and 19-year-old Tomac both dipped inside the Olympic qualification time for Tokyo, three years ahead of a home Games in Paris.
Ndoye Brouard became the third Frenchman to join the 52 club behind Camille Lacourt – who holds the European record of 52.11 – and Jeremy Stravius, the pair sharing the world title in Shanghai in 2011.
Of Tokyo, he told the French Swimming Federation:
“The Games are crazy. I don’t want to go there as a spectator. I want to go as far as possible and gain experience before Paris.”
Cream Rises To The Top With Manaudou And Desplanches
Jeremy Desplanches celebrates an historic Swiss silver in the 200m medley at the World Championships in Gwangju – Photo Courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer
Desplanches dominated the 200IM field to win by almost 1.5secs.
The world silver medallist split 25.26/29.61/34.15/28.48 to stop the clock in a fine 1:57.50 to become the only man inside 1:58 this year.
Leon Marchand was second in 1:58.97, a new PB, and inside the FINA A cut needed for consideration for the French team.
Manaudou had posted notice of his intent with a 21.87 blast in the morning heats before returning in the evening to stop the clock at 21.72.
It guided the 2012 Olympic champion to the top of the rankings after a morning blast of 21.87 had seen him draw level with David Curtiss of the USA.
Manaudou will go to his third Games in Tokyo where he will be looking to go one better than Rio 2016 where he won silver, 0.01 behind Anthony Ervin.
Jesse Puts was second 22.23 with Clement Mignon next home in 22.41.
Henique – who went fifth all-time in 25.24 at the French Elite Meet in November – won the 50 fly in 25.47 ahead of Ranomi Kromowidjojo (25.59) as the pair left the rest of the field trailing with Femke Heemskerk the next woman home in 26.23.
Marie Wattel, who was second in the heats in 25.91 with promise of a battle royale ahead, didn’t take her place in the final.
Victories For Toussaint And Ponti
Kira Toussaint won the 100 back in 59.84 after a heat swim of 59.47 with Britain’s Kathleen Dawson still setting the standard in 2021 with 58.65 last weekend at the British Swimming Invitation Meet in Manchester.
Michelle Coleman was second in 1:01.01.
Kira Toussaint: Photo Courtesy: MIKE LEWIS / ISL
Noe Ponti overcame a 0.22 deficit at halfway to overhaul Mehdy Metella and stop the clock at 51.89 in the men’s 100 fly.
The Swiss record-holder split 24.91/26.98 and although it was slower than his heat time of 51.76, that in itself was a fine indication of fast swimming come Tokyo and its morning finals.
Metella stopped the clock at 52.02 with Jan Sefl next home in 52.92.
Anna Egorova led from the start to win the 400 free in 4:07.46 with Camille Tissandie winning the women’s 400IM in 4:46.46.
Serbia’s Caba Siladji – who won European short-course bronze in 2009 – took the men’s 50br in 27.37 ahead of Arno Kamminga with the Netherlands swimmer clocking 27.45 after 27.27 in the prelims.
Rosey Metz won the women’s race in 30.90.
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