Manaudou Closes French Short Course National Championships With Eight Titles, Six National Records

By Jason Marsteller

ISTRES, France, December 3. ONLY once during the 2006 French Short Course National Championships did Laure Manaudou taste defeat, and that came all the way back on the first day in the 200 back. When all was said and done, Swimming World Magazine's European Swimmer of the Year dominated the meet to the tune of eight national titles and six national records.

In the final day of competition on Dec. 3 in Istres, France, Manaudou took home three more gold medals and a pair of national records.

Meanwhile, Elena Bogomazova completed the breaststroke sweep with a national-record time of 31.41 in the 50 breast.

Women's 400 Freestyle
The Laure Manaudou train kept steamrolling in the 400 freestyle as she posted a meet-record time of 3:59.66 for her sixth title of the meet. That effort clipped her 4:00.20 set on Dec. 4, 2005.

Alena Popchanka placed second in 4:01.43, while Sophie Huber took third in 4:05.80.

Men's 400 Freestyle
Nicolas Rostoucher made it two meet records in a row with a 3:45.82 clocking in the men's 400 free. That time eclipsed the 3:46.39 set by Amaury Leveaux on Dec. 4, 2005.

Anthony Pannier finished second in 4:37.99, while Guy Noel Schmitt placed third in 3:51.37.

Women's 200 Butterfly
A third meet standard fell in the 200 fly when Aurore Mongel hit the wall in 2:07.92. That performance erased her 2:08.26 set on Dec. 12, 2005 and nearly broke her national record 2:07.52 set on Dec. 8, 2005.

Gabrielle Fagundez touched second in 2:09.40, while Magali Rousseau earned bronze in 2:13.72.

Men's 200 Butterfly
Christophe Lebon went on to win the men's 200 fly in 1:56.58. He held off second-place winner Pierre Roger, who stopped the clock in 1:56.98. Meanwhile, Joanes Hedel took third in 1:57.86.

Women's 50 Backstroke
Laura Manaudou continued to serve notice with her seventh gold and fifth national record of the meet in the sprint back. Manaudou blazed to a 27.61 to surpass her national standard of 27.76 set on Nov. 8, 2003 and her 28.02 meet record set on Dec. 12, 2005.

Diane Bui Duyet placed second in 28.28, while Alison Leger took third in 28.75.

Men's 50 Backstroke
Another meet record fell, this time in the 50 back. Mathieu Lacome stopped the clock in 25.13 to eclipse the 25.52 set by Camille Lacourt on Dec. 4, 2005. Lacourt's second-place time of 25.33 also cleared his previous meet record. Simon Dufour rounded out the top three in 26.02.

Women's 50 Breaststroke
Elena Bogomazova completed the breaststroke trifecta with a national-record time of 31.41 in the 50 breast. Her effort nipped the 13-year-old record of 31.62 set by Aude Heinrich on Feb. 7, 1993. It also cleared the meet-standard 32.04 set by Anne-Sophie Le Paranthoen on Jan. 16, 2005.

Le Paranthoen finished second in under meet-record time with a 31.73 clocking, while Celine Baillod placed third in 32.57.

Men's 50 Breaststroke
James Gibson claimed the men's 50 breast crown in 27.73. Marc Lafosse wound up with silver in 27.92, while Hugues Duboscq took third in 28.02 to miss a breaststroke sweep after winning the 100 and 200 breast earlier in the meet.

Women's 200 IM
No one could stop Laure Manaudou as she hammered down her eighth national title and sixth national record in the 200 IM. Manaudou shattered the national record with a 2:09.20 to wipe out the 2:11.36 set by Solenne Figues on Dec. 30, 2002. The time also cleared the meet standard of 2:12.93 set by Manaudou on Dec. 4, 2005.

Camille Muffat took second in 2:11.71 under meet-record time, while Cylia Vabre placed third in 2:13.98.

Men's 200 IM
Christophe Soulier walked away with the 200 IM gold in 2:00.44, hitting the wall well ahead of the rest of the field. Joanes Hedel pocketed silver in 2:02.10, while Ahmed Mathlouthi earned bronze in 2:02.29.

Women's 100 Freestyle
Malia Metella posted a meet-record time of 54.27 to win the 100 free. That effort cleared the 54.81 set by Celine Couderc on Dec. 4, 2005. Meanwhile, Aurore Mongel took second in 54.88, while Elsa N'Guessan finished third in 54.91.

Men's 100 Freestyle
Fabien Gilot registered a meet-standard time of 47.66 to take home the 100 free crown. That time eclipsed the 48.11 set by Fred Bousquet on Dec. 4, 2005. Meanwhile, Alain Bernard finished second in 47.70, also under meet-record time, while Julien Sicot rounded out the top three in 48.28.

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