The world swimming championships continue in Russia, and the Nice-based swimmers are still struggling to perform. Nevertheless, this very young group is learning and is already looking towards the Rio 2016 Olympics and beyond.
On paper, the performances are average, but when you look more closely at the schedule, not so much. There is a gap between last summer’s European level in Berlin and the world championships in Kazan. And for a group of girls whose average age barely reaches 20 years, it is difficult to break into the world’s top 16 (semi-final), and nearly impossible to be among the top 8 (final).
Charlotte Bonnet gave it a go in the 100m, a distance she prefers less than the 200m but still handles well. A successful morning with the eighth-fastest time in the heats at 54’’01, close to her personal record (53’’98). However, the busy schedule, including the 4x200m freestyle, took a toll on the legs of Fabrice Pellerin’s protégé. In the evening semi-final, Charlotte Bonnet finished with the 10th fastest time at 54’’15, 23 hundredths shy of qualifying. It was her first world semi-final at this distance, a valuable experience to bring home.
“I didn’t have much choice with the schedule; I’m paying for it a bit tonight,” she said to France 2’s microphone.
As for the 4x200m relay, the adventure is being built competition by competition with a new generation there as well. While Charlotte Bonnet and Coralie Balmy are the mainstays of this relay, young swimmers are gradually joining the group, like Margaux Fabre (22 years old) and especially Nice’s own Cloé Hache (17 years old). In the morning heats, they progressed at the expense of the Russians by a few hundredths, despite a lukewarm time by Charlotte Bonnet (1’57’’33). And we know the significance of a world final, especially for such a young relay. There was no miracle in the evening, with an eighth and last place, but it was a necessary learning experience and a wide-eyed moment, especially for Cloé Hache, for whom it was her first dip in a world championship. A successful double back-and-forth as she managed 1’59’’76 in rolling start. A good sign for the future, for Rio and mainly beyond.
“We have nothing to regret; this relay is being built. There are new girls, a new generation to incorporate. It has to come together,” Charlotte Bonnet explained after the relay.
And then there was that unfortunate incident in the 4x100m mixed medley on Wednesday, a competition somewhat overlooked by the big nations but which France wanted to fully engage in. After a good relay by Benjamin Stasiulis and Giacomo Perez Dortona for the men, Marie Wattel delivered an interesting performance in the butterfly (58’’62 rolling start). But Anna Santamans anticipated the start, leading to a disqualification of the French relay. In the end, there may have been a nice medal.
Photo credit: Fédération Française de Natation / KMSP/S.KEMPINAIRE
