Manaudou’s World Record is One of Many Highlights on Third Day of French Championships

TOURS, France, May 13. FOR months, speculation in the swimming world revolved around Laure Manaudou’s potential to break Janet Evans’ long-standing world record in the 400-meter freestyle. Well, it finally happened as Manaudou clocked 4:03.03 during the third day of the French Championships, which continued on Friday.

Manaudou went out in 58.30 for the opening 100 meters and hit the 200-meter mark in 2:00.00, well under the record pace of Evans. The Frenchwoman and three-time Olympic medalist then held it together over the last half of the race to take down the global standard. Manaudou already had won the 800 free and 400 individual medley at the French Champs. She was followed in second place by Sophie Huber in 4:13.31.

Manaudou, however, wasn’t the only swimmer producing sizzling results as a French record was established in the 200-meter backstroke by Esther Baron, who touched the wall in 2:10.05. In the men’s version of the distance dorsal, Simon DuFour registered a time of 2:00.69.

The winner of the 800 free and 400 I.M., Nicolas Rostoucher added his third title when he covered the 400 free in 3:49.08 on the men’s side. The effort handed Rostoucher a victory over Sebastien Rouault, who was timed in 3:50.25. As for the 100 butterfly events, Alena Popchanka emerged as the winner among the women with a swim of 59.19. The men’s title went to Amaury Leveaux in 52.89.

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