A Swiss record and a couple more World Championship berths were clinched on night four of the French Championships. Jeremy Desplanches broke his own Swiss record in the 200 IM with a 1:57.40 to win the race by over five seconds over Theo Berry (2:02.44) and Guillaume Laure (2:02.52). Desplanches broke his record that was a 1:59.35 he set at the 2015 World Championships in the semi-finals. Desplanches was 13th at the Olympics last summer where he did not break 2 minutes. His time now sits fourth in the world rankings behind Kosuke Hagino (1:56.01), Wang Shun (1:56.16) and Chase Kalisz (1:57.21).
The other impressive swim on the night came from Mehdy Metella in the 100 free. Metella won the race with a 48.23 to sit at sixth in the world rankings. Metella sits behind Duncan Scott (47.90), Cameron McEvoy (47.91), Gabriel Santos (48.11), Nathan Adrian (48.18) and Kyle Chalmers (48.20). Metella out-raced Jeremy Stravius (48.68), Clement Mignon (49.09) and Nosy Pelagie (49.76). France has medalled at every major meet since 2007 in the 4×100 free relay, including silver at last summer’s Olympics. But France put up a less than stellar relay potential tonight in the 100 free. There is still time to get it together before Budapest but the team will desperately miss veterans Fabien Gilot and Florent Manaudou. Regardless, Metella has now thrust himself into individual medal talks in the 100 free this summer, although it will be a tight final between Scott, McEvoy, Adrian and company.
In the women’s 100 fly, current Texas A&M senior Beryl Gastaldello swam an impressive 58.03 to win the race ahead of Marie Wattel (59.31) and Justine Bruno (1:01.06). That time was almost a full second faster than what Gastaldello swam at the Olympics last summer to place 25th. Gastaldello now sits 14th in the world rankings.
In the men’s 50 breast final, Theo Bussiere won the race with a 27.92 ahead of Tunisia’s Wassim Elloumi (28.67) and Frenchman Thomas Boursac Cervera Lortet (28.78). Bussiere may have the potential of swimming in Budapest on relay duty as he swam a 1:00.62 on Wednesday night.
Camille Gheorghiu won the 200 back final with a 2:12.74, well outside of the qualification time. Gheorghiu beat the Netherland’s Sharon Van Rouwendaal (2:13.22) and Mathilde Cini (2:14.15).
