With the seventh fastest time in the semi-finals, Charlotte Bonnet will be present at the grand final of the 200m this Wednesday evening. Against the titans of the distance (Pellegrini, Hosszu, Ledecky…), a medal would be an incredible achievement but the Nice-born swimmer is capable of surprising.
Four years after Kazan and one year after Rio, Charlotte Bonnet is once again answering the call. The protégé of Fabrice Pellerin will indeed be at the starting block this Wednesday for one of the most anticipated races of these world championships, the 200m freestyle. In top form this year with a personal record improved (1’55’’80), the 22-year-old from Nice seems to be fully blossoming.
Tense but Tenth
This Tuesday morning, the Nice swimmer took third place in her heat with a time of 1’57’’34 (tenth overall time). Charlotte Bonnet performed well in the first hundred meters, nearing the French record waters, but the second part of the race proved to be more challenging alongside Federica Pellegrini and Katinka Hosszu.
“It was a tough heat, not easy to handle. I started fast because I know my finish is weaker. It’s always difficult to begin a competition this way; usually, I have the relay (4x100m). I hope it will be better this evening,” she confided to Canal Plus Sport.
Ready for the Challenge!
The meeting was set around 6:45 PM at the Duna Arena, packed as every evening (12,000 people). In the first semi-final, Charlotte Bonnet faced the extraordinary Katie Ledecky (3 races, 3 gold medals since the start of the championships), Emma Mc Keon, and Veronika Popova.
Swimming lane number 2, the French swimmer started fast, her favored race strategy. After 50m and 100m, Bonnet was in second position, with noticeably better times than in the morning (-00’’23 after 50m, -00’’65 after 100m). Under pressure during the second part of the race, the French swimmer didn’t give up until the wall, despite attacks from American Leah Smith. On the scoreboard, Charlotte Bonnet touched in fourth position with a time of 1’56”28, the seventh among the sixteen semi-finalists.
“There was stress, it doesn’t come down to much. The goal was to swim around 1’56”2, I held on because I had to touch in fourth position. I have my chances, I’m going to give it my all because I haven’t made a world final since Kazan in 2013, it feels good,” explained Charlotte Bonnet, interviewed by her compatriot Mélanie Hénique on Canal Plus Sport.
