Double titleholder Charlotte Bonnet was edged out at the finish in the 100m breaststroke. The most important events for the Nice star are coming up in the next few days with the 200m on Friday and the 100m on Sunday.
It’s the trend. Yes, the trend of races to test oneself. Test her feelings, the water, the temperature. Like every year, it’s the 100m breaststroke that serves as preparation for Charlotte Bonnet. But, unlike 2014 and 2015, the Nice swimmer was defeated. It was Fanny Deberghes (ASPTT Montpellier) who touched slightly ahead with a time of 1’08’’61 compared to 1’08’’88. Fabrice Pellerin’s pupil achieved by far her best time of 2016 in this distance, proof of a certain form.
On to the 200m
Charlotte Bonnet has a date on Friday morning for the 200m freestyle heats, her favorite distance. She will face competitors such as Coralie Balmy, who qualified this Wednesday evening in the 400m, and Ophélie-Cyrielle Etienne, very experienced with the tricolor swimsuit. The Nice swimmer will conclude these championships with the marquee event, the 100m, which will take place on Sunday.
Other results of the day
Coralie Balmy, affiliated with Montpellier but trained in Antibes by Franck Esposito, is the first qualifier for Rio. The Frenchwoman wins the 400m freestyle in 4’05’’38 and will be at the Olympic Games this summer. In the 200m breaststroke, William Debourges (CN Antibes) wins in 2’12’’85. Another Antibes swimmer, Thomas Dahlia, disappointed, earning only the bronze medal after a promising time in the heats (2’12’’53).
An astonishing scenario in the 200m freestyle. Although Jérémy Stravius easily wins in 1’46’’18, he does not qualify for Rio. Behind him, Jordan Pothain takes second place and Yannick Agnel third. The latter clearly touched, as seen on video footage, in second place and logically contested all evening, filing a protest to obtain the runner-up spot. The judges stick to their decision, and the matter is unlikely to end there. Finally, in the 100m backstroke, Béryl Gastaldello clinches her first title in 2016 with a time of 1’00’’26, which qualifies her for the European Championships in London. The Marseillaise, expatriated to an American university, shatters her personal record and will be seen numerous times until Sunday.
Photo credit: Stéphane Kempinaire / KMSP / French Swimming Federation
