Just like in Berlin two years ago, Anna Santamans narrowly misses her first international podium. The swimmer from Olympic Nice Natation finishes 4th in the 50m freestyle behind the untouchable, multi-medaled sprinters.
Facing the media, Anna Santamans repeats the phrase “no regrets.” Over the course of the competitions, the Nice sprinter has delivered top-level performances. She only has one more step to climb, the one that leads to the podium. At 23 years old, she seems to have turned a corner, battling with the very best in the 50m.
A personal record = a medal
Fourth in 24.81 seconds, she is “only” two-tenths away from climbing onto an impressive podium (Kromowidjojo, Halsall, Ottesen). With her time from Montpellier (24.59, personal record), the Nice native would have claimed her first world medal and an achievement. But with “ifs,” we redo the world of swimming… With three times under 25 seconds (25 seconds flat in heats), Anna Santamans proves that she is a force to be reckoned with in the years to come, much like Mélanie Hénique in butterfly.
A positive assessment
“I came with apprehension and in search of sensations, I’m leaving with rage and the desire to work even harder. It was a week with ups and downs but a great deal of lessons for the future,” posted the Nice native on her Facebook page.
Medaled with the mixed relay, Anna Santamans finishes a successful European Championships. Far more comfortable in the 50m, she struggled in the 100m freestyle individually, though in the relay, she swam a 54.50 when launched. Qualified for Rio in the single length, she will “defend” a semi-final (10th time in London in 2012). A final, with the addition of the Americans and Australians, would be a true achievement.
