Superb overall performance from the CNC Alès and the Nautic-club Nîmes, the two flagship Gard clubs in Dunkirk, during the Benjamin French championships.
After the juniors a few days ago, the benjamins. The French championships in the 12-13 year old category took place in Dunkirk last weekend. Here again, the two flagship Gard clubs, the CNC Alès and the Nautic-club Nîmes, distinguished themselves. In the national ranking, they are placed 11th and 13th respectively out of 311 structures present!
“A dream week”
On the Alesian side, eight young people managed to qualify for the national meeting. In the North they lived “a dream week with impeccable swimmers in the water but also in their state of mind and their behavior”summarizes, very satisfied, the manager Gwenaël Serio.
Nine Alesian podiums…
The results: 33 races, 32 personal best performances, 11 club records broken, 6 from Gard and 3 from Occitanie. And 9 medals brought back, 3 in gold, 1 in silver and 5 in bronze.
Born in 2012, Louka Gil superbly dominated his age category in backstroke as he achieved a hat-trick with three French 12-year-old champion titles over 50, 100 and 200 m (three Occitanie records). And completes his collection of charms by placing 3rd in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle. The Cévenol also ranks 4th in the 200m, 6 hundredths from a sixth podium.
Chloé Varraud-Ibañez also had a magnificent competition and finished bronzed, three times: in the 400 m (like last year), 800 m and, nice surprise, in the 200 m butterfly on the last day.
Kamil Chetoui comes to close this festival by seeking a title of vice-champion of France in the 200m butterfly (4th in the 400m). Maïlys Sagit’s 4th place in the 200 backstroke leaves some regrets but confirms her progress (5th in the 800 m). Finally, top 7 and 8 for Mélia Cotingarin on 50, 100 and 200 backstroke as well as for Liséa Pichon on 50 and 200 breaststroke; 10 for Giovani Callamani over 400 m and 15 for Noélyse Discolle over 50 pap.
…and six Nîmes medals
On the Nîmes side, there are six podiums in total for the four qualified swimmers. Including the Penard sisters, twins born in 2011 and members of the new sports section of the Alzon institute, opened in September.
In Dunkirk, they shone brightly in 4 swims: Faustine is French champion in the 400 m medley, vice champion in the 200 m medley and 800 m, and 3rd in the 400 m with Gard records each time. All colors! Margaux is not to be outdone, silver on 400 4 swims (double the sisters in the event, therefore) and tanned on 200 4 swims.
As for the two other Nîmes, Édouard Gervais is 9th in the 800 m and Sacha Stéphan 26th in the 200 fly. Finally, mention to another Gardois present, the Villeneuvois Imran Allali, 28th in the 200 breaststroke.
