Mathieu Warnier, Media365, published on Wednesday June 19, 2024 at 7:25 p.m.
While Emma Terebo and Pauline Mahieu in the 200m backstroke as well as Pacôme Bricout and David Aubry in the 800m freestyle qualified for Paris 2024, Léon Marchand validated his ticket in the 200m butterfly then the 200m backstroke in the space of 50 minutes.
Léon Marchand did not miss his test. While the Paris 2024 program should require him to compete in the 200m butterfly and the 200m backstroke on the same day, the Toulouse native was able to experience such a sequence this Wednesday in the Chartres basin. After securing his place in the two finals in the morning, the TOEC Dolphins swimmer validated two new tickets for the next Olympic Games. At the start of the program, he dominated the 200m butterfly in 1’54”08, a little less than two seconds below the minimums imposed by the French Swimming Federation (FFN). A bar which proved too high for Noyan Taylaon (1’56”17) and Sandro Henras-Marouf (2’00”22), who climbed onto the podium. Barely 50 minutes later, Léon Marchand returned to the pool for the 200m breaststroke final, for which the competition was well present. After a measured start, the Toulouse driver accelerated to win in 2’08”95, barely seven tenths of a second under the qualifying limit. Antoine Viquerat (2’09”75) failed just above the minimums when Antoine Marc, best time in the series, finished third (2’10”16).
Terebo continues, Bricout surprises
After splashing the 100m backstroke this Monday by beating the French record, Emma Terebo did not stop there. Announced favorite of the 200m backstroke final, the swimmer from the Amiens club did better than respond. In front from the first length, completed in front of the passage times of the French record held by Laure Manaudou, she won the title of French champion in 2’08”53 and takes a second ticket for Paris 2024, finishing almost two seconds below the minimums imposed by the French Swimming Federation. Very disappointed after missing the mark in the 100m backstroke, Pauline Mahieu was able to recover. Second in 2’09”28, she also ensured her Olympic qualification over the distance. Lou-Anne Guiton completes the podium (2’12”15). But the good surprise of this fourth day of the French championships remains the qualification for Paris 2024 in the 800m freestyle by Pacôme Bricout, at only 19 years old. While the Tunisian Ahmed Jaouadi, member of SC Thionville, set a hell of a pace to win in 7’45”31, the swimmer from Vanves was able to hold on. Touching in 7’48”63, he clearly fell below the minimum and ensures his qualification. David Aubry (7’49”44) does the same while Damien Joly (7’50”10) is satisfied with the bronze medal.
Hénique makes an appointment
Mélanie Hénique, for her part, is already in good shape. While she will be seeking a place at the Olympic Games in the 50m freestyle, the swimmer from the Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille gave the lesson during the final of the 50m butterfly, a distance which will not be on the Paris 2024 program. imposes in 25”60, almost a second less than his runner-up Maty Ndoye-Brouard (26”51), who narrowly beat Albane Cachot (26”55). The 50m breaststroke final saw the Belgian Florine Gaspard, member of the Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille, set the best time in 30”71. The title of French champion thus goes to Cyrielle Duhamel, second in 31”75. The podium is completed by Chloé Braun (31”89) and Lucie Vasquez (32”04). This Thursday, for the penultimate day of these French championships, attention will be focused on the 50m freestyle, with Florent Manaudou and Maxime Grousset who intend to battle it out in the pool for the title of French champion and ensure their ticket to the Olympic Games. Emma Terebo, for her part, will try to complete her collection with the 50m backstroke.
