Mehdy Metella Makes Big Statement In 100 Free To Close French Golden Tour

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Mehdy Metella made a major statement on the final day of France’s Golden Tour stop in Nancy, posting a very fast 100 freestyle that is now the fastest swum by a Frenchman in 2015. Meanwhile, Katinka Hosszu won five more races to assert her now-trademarked name “Iron Lady.”

Metella was unable to put together a strong performance in the 100 free at the French nationals last month, finishing sixth with a 48.94 in a very close final. The younger brother of Olympic medalist Malia Metella, Mehdy won the event tonight with a 48.44, a time that would have won at last month’s nationals. It’s now given the French swimming federation reason to consider Metella for relay duty at world championships, where he’ll already be swimming the 100 butterfly. The time puts Metella 10th in the world standings. Kristian Gkolomeev of Greece, the reigning 100 free NCAA champion, was second with a 48.85. Jeremy Stravius, who had won the national title last month in 48.50, was third with a 49.16.

As for Hosszu, she swam in all six women’s finals tonight and started off very strong with a national record in the 50 backstroke. She won with a 28.30, lowering her own mark of 28.81 from last summer’s European championships. It’s not fast enough to get her close to the global top 10, but it was the first of many races for the Hungarian star, and she would show off her versatility as well.

She had no problem winning the 400 free, and though she had four more races to go (including the 200 fly about 20 minutes later), she still put forth a strong effort with a 4:08.83 to win by seven seconds over the 4:15.95 by Lea Marchal. In that 200 fly final, Hosszu was ahead of Germany’s Franziska Hentke going into the final 50 meters, but the aches from the 400 free affected her, and she fell off the pace. Hentke won with a 2:07.75 while Hosszu faded to post a 2:09.37. Hosszu was back with a vengeance in the 50 breaststroke, posting a 32.31 to beat Nolwenn Herve’s 32.70.

Another dominating swim came in the 200 IM, where she beat Germany’s Alexandra Wenk by five seconds. Hosszu’s 2:11.69 is well off the 2:08.66 she swam last week to set the U.S. Open record, but a fine swim in her fifth race of the day. And to further show off her range, Hosszu claimed the 100 free with a 55.60, finishing strong in the second 50 meters to pull away from Paulina Schmiedel of Germany (second: 56.06) and Mathilde Cini of France (third: 56.20).

The men’s 50 backstroke featured not only Florent Manaudou, the short course world record holder, but the gold and silver medalists from the 2013 world championships, Camille Lacourt and Stravius. Though Manaudou won’t get the chance to swim the event in Russia at worlds, he showed that he’s still a strong 50-meter swimmer in any stroke with a 24.98 for the win. Stravius was second with a 25.05 while Lacourt followed in third with a 25.51. Lacourt and Stravius still stand as the top two in the event globally with their swims from last month’s nationals.

Germany’s men’s team earned three wins on the final night of the meet. Florian Vogel was untouchable in the 400 free, winning with a 3:50.48 over teammate Poul Zellmann’s 3:56.03. Hendrik Feldwehr took the 50 breast in 27.78 to touch out France’s Giacomo Perez Dortona (27.82) and Manaudou (27.91). Philip Heintz traded the lead with Hungary’s David Verraszto through the 200 IM, but Heintz was ahead when it mattered most, winning with a 2:01.26 to Verraszto’s 2:01.34.

Greece’s Stefanos Dimitriadis also denied Verraszto a victory, holding off the Hungarian to take the 200 fly with a 1:58.19 over Verraszto’s 1:58.34. Jordan Coelho of France also broke two minutes with a 1:59.66 for third.

2015 Golden Tour, Nancy – Day 3 – Results

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Stephen A. Gomez Perez

8 years ago

Ben Porras