Mary-Ambre Moluh Continues Record-Breaking Feats with 100 Back Mark at French Championships
- Results
- Day 1 report
- Day 2 report
- Day 3 report
- Leon Marchand Withdraws From French Championships For Further Treatment On Adductor Injury
Mary-Ambre Moluh rewrote the French record books for the second time in as many days by downing the 100m backstroke standard at the national championships in Saint-Etienne.
Pauline Mahieu: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Moluh split 27.91/30.34 for a 58.25 victory as she sliced a 0.54 chunk off Emma Terebo’s 58.79 mark from June 2024, weeks before the Paris Olympics.
It elevates the Cal swimmer to fifth performer in the world this year and top European, six weeks ahead of the continental showcase in Paris and follows her 50 back record of 27.20 on Monday which sent her sixth in the rankings.
Behind her Pauline Mahieu (59.57) and Beryl Gastaldello (59.76) were also inside the 1:00.27 cut for the French team for the European Championships. Fourth-placed Bertille Cousson was outside the QT in1:00.53 although she’s booked her slot in the 200 back.
By the end of the session, six swimmers had attained qualification times for the European Championships which run from 10-16 August in Paris. It also refocused attention on matters in the pool after the news earlier in the day that Leon Marchand had withdrawn from the remainder of the meet to undergo further treatment on the adductor injury he sustained on Monday.
Cristofini & Fuchs In 200 Free Dead Heat
Roman Fuchs & Sauveur Cristofini: Photo Courtesy: French Federation
A 27.65 final 50 propelled 16-year-old Sauveur Cristofini into a dead heat with Roman Fuchs in the 200 free, in which Marchand had been scheduled to enter. Fuchs led from the outset and was 0.37 ahead at the final turn before Cristofini ate into his lead down that last 50 with the pair touching in 1:46.88 as both men finished 0.02 inside the cut for Paris. Pierre Largeron joined them on the podium in 1:47.84.
It’s been a fine few days for Cristofini who set an age group record of 48.99 in the 100 free.
Carl Aitkaci booked his ticket to Paris with a 27.21 outing in the men’s 50 breast – 0.09 inside the cut – with Ronan Wantenaar of Namibia the second man to touch in 27.24. Pierre Goudeneche (27.35) and Antoine Viquerat (27.45) were the second and third Frenchman home although neither man made the 27.30 QT.
Yohann Ndoye Brouard clinched his second title of the meet so far with the narrowest of victories over Lysander Osman in 25.00 to 25.01. Neither man, however, made the 24.89 qualification time which Osman had matched in prelims. Jules Andre and Michel Arkhangelsky both finished on 25.13 with the former the third Frenchman home and the latter representing Bahrain. Ndoye Brouard has qualified in the 200 back and has the 100 remaining on Wednesday.
Lou-Ann Gaudaire completed the distance double when she added the 1500 free to her 800 title in 16:22.76 although she was outside the QT of 16:14.00. Lucie Vasquez won the women’s 200m breaststroke in 2:28.13