Camille Muffat Steps Off Gas in 400 Free at French Nationals

ANGERS, France, November 17. ALL eyes were on Camille Muffat today, as spectators wondered if they would see the Olympic champion set two world records in as many days at the French short course meters nationals.

A day after breaking the world record in the 800 freestyle, fans expected Camille Muffat to get under the 400 free record that she just missed last month. But the Olympic champ in the 400 was not close to the 3:54.93 she swam in Berlin, winning the 400 free with a 3:59.38. Judging from Muffat's splits (58.39, 1:01.11, 1:00.40, 59.48), she never made a realistic run at the record today, perhaps saving for next week's European championships or next month's world championships.

Placing second in the 400 free today was Denmark's Lotte Friis with a 4:01.07, followed by Coralie Balmy in third with a 4:02.13.

Laure Manaudou picked up her third win of the meet with the 50 backstroke today in a time of 27.11. She was followed by Chloe Credeville in 27.54 and Melanie Henique with a 27.67.

Florent Manaudou, the Olympic champion in the 50 freestyle, showed some diversity with a win in the 50 breaststroke in a time of 26.39. He just missed Hugues Duboscq's national record of 26.35 from 2009. Giacomo Perez Dortona was second with a 26.70, and Maxime Bussiere took third with a 27.61.

Dorian Gandin won the men's 100 individual medley with a 53.52, well ahead of Perez Dortona's runner-up time of 54.46 and Eddie Moueddene's third-place swim of 54.63.

Fanny Babou was able to pass national record holder Sophie de Ronchi on the final 50 of the women's 100 breast to take the title with a 1:07.65 to de Ronchi's 1:07.81. Sarah Vaisse was third with a 1:08.86.

Jeremy Stravius, the reigning co-world champion in the 100 backstroke, took the national title with a 51.18 by the slimmest of margins over Benjamin Stasiulis' 51.19. Joris Hustache was third with a 52.23.

Jordan Coelho had no problem winning the men's 200 fly in a time of 1:54.10, well ahead of Hugo Tormento's 1:56.83. Marvin Maisonnueve was the bronze medalist with a 1:57.82.

Melanie Henique won the women's 100 butterfly in a time of 58.35, with Charlotte Bonnet also dipping under the 1:00 barrier with a 59.63. Anna Santamans took third with a 1:00.10.

Anthony Pannier set a meet record in the men's 1500 freestyle with a 14:38.32. He was well ahead of Enzo Vial Collet, who posted a 14:53.10. Axel Reymond almost dipped under 15 minutes with a third-place time of 15:00.40.

Morgane Rothon won the women's 1500 free with a 16:14.33, with Aurelie Muller second in 16:31.57 and Marion Brunel third in 16:43.84.

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