French Olympic Trials: Lara Grangeon Becomes First to Earn Olympic Spot at Trials

DUNKERQUE, France, March 18. THE first day of the French Olympic Trials featured a convoluted qualification process in play that is actually more detailed than the one utilized by the British to choose their team. Only one swimmer, Lara Grangeon, earned a guaranteed spot on the French Olympic roster during night one in Dunkerque.

Depending on the specific event, the French require a series of heat, semifinal and final cuts to be eligible to make their Olympic roster. Not all event have heat or semifinal cuts.

FINALS
Men's 400 IM
Cuts: Heats: 4:22.00; Finals: 4:16.46
Taki M'Rabet won the men's 400 IM in 4:20.84 for Tunisia, while Quentin Coton was the top French finisher with a 4:22.22. Arnaud Rondan placed third in 4:23.15. No swimmer made the qualifying times for the Olympic squad in this event.

Men's 400 free
Cuts: Finals: 3:48.92
Sebastien Rouault finished outside of the French cut to make the Olympics in the middle distance event with a 3:49.15, even though the swim pushed him to 12th in the world. Anthony Pannier (3:50.15) and Damien Joly (3:50.67) finished second and third in the event. Rouault's next chance to make the team will come in the 1500 free.

Women's 400 IM
Cuts: Heats: 4:50.00; Finals: 4:41.75
After leading the preliminary heats with an eligible time of 4:45.75, Lara Grangeon secured the first spot on the French Olympic roster from these Trials with a 4:40.12 for the win. That swim improved Grangeon to 12th in the world rankings in the distance medley. Sara El Bekri of Morocco took second in 4:48.57, while France's Isabelle Mabboux took third in 4:49.21.

SEMIFINALS
Women's 100 fly
Cuts: Heats: 1:00.50; Semis: 59.13; Finals: 58.70
Out of prelims, Camille Muffat (58.90), Aurore Mongel (59.90) and Sophie De Ronchi (1:00.24) each cleared the heats cut, before Mongel returned in the semifinal rounds with a 59.96 to fall short of automatic bid. However, the top finisher in the finale will be moved on to the 400 medley relay in London. Justin Bruno (1:00.27) and De Ronchi (1:00.34) placed second and third in semis.

Muffat, meanwhile, swam the 100 fly in prelims with no intention on shooting for Olympic qualification. According to local media reports, Muffat's focus is the 400 freestyle.

Men's 100 breast
Cuts: Semis: 1:01.51; Finals: 1:00.79
Giacomo Perez Dortona made the cut in the semifinal with a 1:00.97, while USA's Mark Gangloff posted the second fastest time in semis with a 1:01.47. Perez Dortona earned 13th in the world rankings with his swim, while Gangloff already is 14th with a 1:01.08 from the Austin Grand Prix in January. Hugues Duboscq took second in 1:01.69, missing the semifinal cut. However, Duboscq can still make a bid for his four Olympic Games for the French by winning the 100 breast finale to secure a spot on the 400 medley relay. Perez Dortona, meanwhile, will need to clear the 1:00.79 mark to earn a roster spot in the 100 breast individual event.

NON-OLYMPIC FINALS
Men's 50 fly
Amaury Leveaux won the sprint fly in 23.65 to move to seventh in the world rankings. Fred Bousquet placed second in 23.70, while Florent Manaudou tied Fabien Gilot for third with matching 23.72s. The three swimmers moved into eighth and ninth in the rankings, respectively. Notably, USA's Tyler McGill took sixth in 24.14.

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