Charlotte Bonnet finishes in 7th place (54’’96) in the 100m freestyle, an event she used to prepare for the 200m, her favorite distance (heats on Friday, final on Saturday). In good form and feeling positive in Berlin’s pool, the Nice star aims for a medal, or more, for the rest of the week.
At only 19 years old, she is the future of French swimming in the 200m and 400m, and also the leader of Olympic Nice Natation following Camille Muffat’s retirement. This added pressure does not intimidate Fabrice Pellerin’s protégé.
From day one, she has been working hard in the 4x100m final with her Nice teammates (Santamans and Hache) along with Coralie Balmy. “It’s tough to start a competition with a final, especially a 4x100m, but the series of races doesn’t scare me,” she said after the relay finished in 5th place. That’s fortunate because the Berlin program is packed with the 100m, the 200m, and the 4x200m relay continuing throughout the week.
In the 100m freestyle heat, Bonnet took 7th place with a respectable time of 54’’79 before qualifying for the final with the 8th and last semi-final time of 54’’90. In lane 1, Charlotte Bonnet faced the best of European and world sprinting with Swedish Sarah Sjoestroem and Michelle Coleman, Dutch Femke Heemskerk, and Danish Pernille Blume.
During her introduction, the “Go Charlotte!” cheers echoed in Berlin’s velodrome. The Nice resident could rely on the French supporters scattered throughout the velodrome, armed with tricolor flags. Starting more slowly than in the heats and semi-final, Charlotte Bonnet never closed the gap to reach the podium, finishing 7th in 54’’96, far from Sjoestroem, the European champion at 52’’67.
“I’m not disappointed even if my time is worse than yesterday (Tuesday). I gave it my all; I didn’t want to give up. It was good to start with this 100m, I fought well even if I’m not swimming at the level I would like. Now I’m focused on the 200m and the 4x200m relay. In this 4x200m relay team, there is confidence, and we have our place on a European podium. The goal is to reach the podium tomorrow night (Thursday night),” the Nice resident admits.
From our special correspondent in Berlin – Clément Bigois
