Beryl Gastaldello Sets National 100 Back Record Among Golden Campaign At French Short-Course Championships
The French Short-Course Championships wrapped up in Montpellier after four days of competition which featured standout campaigns by Beryl Gastaldello, Maxime Grousset and Mewen Tomac.
The event served as a selection meet for the World Short-Course Championships that run from 10-15 December in Budapest with the France team set to be confirmed in the coming days.
Leon Marchand is among those set for the Hungarian capital with the four-time Olympic champion having competed on the World Cup tour at which he was crowned overall men’s champion.
Gastaldello set a national 100 back record of 56.07 on the penultimate day which was witnessed by her 94-year-old grandmother who was watching her swim for the first time. Behind her in second, Pauline Mahieu also booked a slot for worlds.
Maxime Grousset: Photo Courtesy: KMSP/Lionel Hahm
Following her record performance, she said through the French Federation: “It’s great this French record! I’m happy, I really feel that I still have a lot left in me.”
The 29-year-old – winner of world and European medals in the long and short-course pools – won the 100 free (51.66) and 100IM (57.93) before bringing her competition to a close with a 24.76 blast in the 50 fly to ensure a busy programme in Budapest.
Grousset won six titles, wrapping up his programme with a 20.96 victory in the 50 free. That followed golds in the 50 fly (22.50), 100 fly (49.50), 100IM (51.93), 50m breaststroke (26.42) and 100 free (46.13).
Tomac completed the backstroke treble, starting off with a Budapest QT over 200m of 1:51.15 where he was joined by Antoine Herlem (1:51.94).
He also qualified in the 100 in 50.28 although his winning time of 23.29 hasn’t as yet made the cut. Tomac also won the 200IM in 1:54.07.
Others all but confirmed for Budapest were Analia Pigree, winner of the 50 back (26.21) and 50 free with Melanie Henique also booking a slot in the latter; Damien Joly (800/1500 free) and Roman Fuchs (200/400 free) with Mahieu adding the 200 back to her 100 berth.
