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{"id":216547,"date":"2016-08-07T15:34:34","date_gmt":"2016-08-07T22:34:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=216547"},"modified":"2016-08-07T15:34:34","modified_gmt":"2016-08-07T22:34:34","slug":"yannick-agnel-reflects-on-frustrating-200-free-and-likely-end-of-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/yannick-agnel-reflects-on-frustrating-200-free-and-likely-end-of-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Yannick Agnel Reflects on Frustrating 200 Free and Likely End of Career"},"content":{"rendered":"

By David Rieder<\/em><\/p>\n

While the men\u2019s 200 free semifinals and final will be filled with familiar faces, the man who won the Olympic gold medal four years ago and the World title in 2013 will not be involved.<\/p>\n

France\u2019s Yannick Agnel<\/strong> finished 19th in 1:47.35, two tenths out of the top 16 and more than four seconds slower than he swam on his way to gold in London.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it was going to be tough to get in tonight,\u201d Agnel said. \u201cIn French, we say \u2018having the weapons to compete.\u2019 I knew I didn\u2019t have all of the weapons for this morning, so I tried to go as fast as I could. I knew I would get in with 1:46-something, so I was aiming for that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no regrets because I gave it my all this morning, but I am disappointed and sad that I couldn\u2019t defend my title.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agnel acknowledged that the past four years have been difficult for him, and he almost missed out on the chance to swim the 200 free in Rio. He appeared to finish second in the event at France\u2019s Olympic Trials in March, but a touchpad malfunction<\/a>\u00a0appeared to leave\u00a0him third.<\/p>\n

Jordan Pouthain<\/strong> eventually did step aside for Agnel, but success in Rio was not to be.<\/p>\n

Agnel actually went out strong in his prelims swim\u2014his 100 split of 51.63 was tied for the seventh-best split in the field\u2014but he faded badly down the stretch, chugging home in 28.30 on the last 50.<\/p>\n

And immediately afterwards, Agnel admitted that he had probably raced for the last time in an individual event.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still have to stay focused for the 4×200 for my friends, my team, my country,\u201d he said. \u201cI know where I want to go, and it\u2019s probably not in the water anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agnel will be on hand in this evening\u2019s finals as France pursues its second-straight gold medal in the men\u2019s 400 free relay. He won\u2019t be a member of the squad this time, but four years ago, he anchored the French squad to gold, coming from behind to touch out Ryan Lochte<\/strong> at the end.<\/p>\n

And Agnel certainly hopes that tonight, his teammates will pick up where he left off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know we don\u2019t have the best weapons, but we know how to do it\u2014we know how to deal with adversity, how to deal with tough competition,\u201d he said. \u201cThe 4×100 is my baby as well, so I hope they will take care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the individual 200 free, Agnel still seemed interested in the outcome, even if he would not be going any further in that one himself.<\/p>\n

When asked who he expected to win gold, Agnel joked that he better answer Paul Biedermann<\/strong> to ensure that the German reporter asking would not bite his finger off.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be very close. Actually I have no idea. These guys are all my friends, and I wish I could compete with them in the final. All of those guys, I have so many memories with them, happy memories\u2014or less happy. So I wish them the best of luck, and may the best of them win.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"