2015 French SC Nationals: 2 Golds for Stravius, Grangeon on Day 1

2015 French Short Course National Championships

• Dates: Thursday, November 19 – Sunday, November 22, 2015
• Times: prelims 8:30 am, finals 5:30 pm
• Location: Angers, France (GMT +1, or 6 hours ahead of N.Y., 9 ahead of L.A.)
• Results: Available
• Championship Central

The French swimming world gathered on Thursday in Angers, three hours southwest of Paris, to begin the country’s four-day short course national championships. It was a welcomed respite from the ongoing developments in the attacks on Paris last Friday. And yet it couldn’t have been all that easy to not think about Paris. The French Federation (FFN) produced commemorative swim caps for those who wished to honor the victims. On their Facebook page, the FFN wrote:

FFN’s #TousUnis cap for short course nationals #Angers15

“These caps were produced so that the participants in these championships may pay tribute to the victims of the attacks, if they wish. As of now, there are no plans to sell them. We will be sure to keep you informed if anything changes. Thank you for your understanding.”

For the members of France’s national team, Angers is more of a test meet than a true championship; most are in the middle of a tough mid-season schedule with the singular goal of being ready for French Olympic Trials at the end of March 2016. The FFN was one of the first federations to radically tighten their standards for selection to represent the country at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and their athletes have very little room for error.

Women’s 1500 Meter Freestyle – Fastest Heat

The first championship final of the evening was the fastest-seeded heat of the women’s 1500m freestyle. Sharon Van Rouwendaal, who represents Netherlands but trains under coach Philippe Lucas in France, posted the fastest time of the day with 15:49.50. The title of French Champion went to Aurélie Muller (CN Sarreguemines), who won the 10K at World Championships in Kazan this summer and qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Muller touched at 15:58.91, and declared, “I am really happy to win this title. I like the 1500. I know that Sharon is stronger than me in the pool, but going under 16 minutes here shows we’ve been doing good work since the beginning of the season. It is important to have a good base speed for working on the 10K for Rio.” Adeline Furst (Obernai), with 16:07.71, and Ophélie-Cryrielle Etienne (Lille), with 16:15.96, rounded out the podium.

Men’s 200 Meter IM – Final

Jérémy Stravius of Amiens won the first of his two events of the evening with a 1:55.70 in the 200m IM. Stravius had several body lengths’ lead on the field at the 100, not surprising given that he is one of the world’s most accomplished backstrokers. He needed that lead, though, as his breaststroke was by far the slowest in the heat. Stravius wound up winning by 6/10 over Ganesh Pedurand of Toulouse (1:56.34). Jeremy Desplanches of Switzerland, who trains at Olympic Nice Natation, touched third with 1:59.23. Third on the podium, however, was Guillaume Laure of Antibes (2:00.52). His teammate Quentin Coton, who had been second in prelims, was disqualified in the final for a false start.

Women’s 200 Meter Butterfly – Final

Lara Grangeon of Calédoniens improved her personal best by .63 when she won the women’s 200 fly with 2:04.84. Marie Wattel of Nice was 2.9 seconds faster than her seed time, touching second with 2:05.53. Mulhouse’s Camille Wishaupt came in third with 2:11.59, just 20/100 ahead of Van Rouwendaal (2:11.79), fresh off her 1500 victory.

Men’s 400 Meter Freestyle – Final

Amiens’ Stravius made it two-for-two when he came right back after the IM to win the 400 free. Seeded fifth with 3:46.0, Stravius went 3:41.80 in prelims and found himself in pole position for the final. Second-seeded Jordan Pothain of Nautic Club Alp’38 had also had a good morning, dropping 5 seconds to finish second with 3:42.13. Stravius told the press, “I had a lot of fun with this 400 free final. I was expecting it to be hard because Jordan (Pothain) had swum well this morning. I saw him pick it up after the first 200 and I wanted to stay at his feet until the 300, before hammering down at the end. I came to win, and I gave it everything I had over the last 25 meters. Things are looking good for the month of March.” In the end, Stravius won with 3:39.48 to Pothain’s 3:39.86. Top-seeded Joris Bouchaut of Toulouse was third with 3:43.18.

Men’s 200 Meter Backstroke – Final

Marseille’s Benjamin Stasiulis dominated the 200 back, taking it out quickly and shutting everyone down over the second 100. Stasiulis was about a second faster than his seed time, going 1:52.31. Eric Ress of Antibes came in second with 1:54.53, about 1.5 seconds faster than his entry time. Geoffroy Mathieu of Clermont took the bronze with 1:55.59, again about 1.5 seconds faster than his seed time.

Women’s 100 Meter Backstroke – Final

The youngest person to climb to the top step of the podium on Day 1 of the French national short course championships was Pauline Mahieu of St-André; she dipped under 1:00 for the first time to win the event with 58.69. Valence’s Mathilde Cini was runner-up with 58.76, while Montpellier’s Camille Gheorghiu was third in 59.94.

Men’s 100 Meter Butterfly – Final

Mehdy Metella of Marseille, who broke the French national record in the LCM 100m fly this summer at Kazan, earned the title of National Champion in the short course pool with 50.86. Jordan Coelho of Vanves placed second, right at his entry time with 51.66. Metella’s teammate from Marseille, Camille Lacourt, picked up the bronze medal with a 52.22; he went more than 4/10 faster than his seed time. Metella and Lacourt, along with several more of their Marseille teammates, were sporting a trim little Gatsby-like Movember ‘stache. At the post-race presser, Metella declared, “Right now I’m working hard in the weight room. After nationals I will start concentrating on swimming. I am happy to represent France and to keep my head up, but given the recent events it isn’t easy.”

Women’s 200 Meter IM – Final

Like Jérémy Stravius, Lara Grangeon of Calédoniens was a double-winner on day 1 of the national short course meet. After the 200 fly, Grangeon won a decisive victory in the 200 IM with 2:09.39. Behind her were Fantine Lesaffre of Mulhouse (2:11.93) and Coralie Codevelle of Sarcelles (2:13.32).

Men’s 100 Meter Breaststroke – Final

The mustachioed men of Marseille swept the podium in the 100 breast. The veteran Giacomo Perez Dortona led the way with 58.76, but not far behind were youngsters Théo Bussière (58.89) and Jean Dencausse (59.15). Bussière improved his seed time by 1.2 seconds, but Perez Dortona and Dencausse were a bit off.

Women’s 50 Meter Breaststroke – Final

Justine Bruno of Beauvaisis eked out a victory in the women’s 50 breast by .15 over Toulouse’s Adeline Williams and Canet 66’s Nolwenn Hervé. Bruno touched in 31.15, shaving more than 1.1 seconds off her seed time. Williams (31.30) and Hervé (31.78) were both a bit better than their entry times.

Men’s 50 Meter Freestyle – Final

The 50 free featured yet another Marseille-centric podium, although this one was to be expected. Nearly every member of France’s free relays swims out of the club, and they tend to dominate this event at the national meets. 2015 World Champion Florent Manaudou (21.20) managed to get the win, but he was challenged, and nearly out-touched, by teammate Clément Mignon (21.28). Veteran Frédérick Bousquet came in third with 21.68.

Afterwards, Manaudou told the press, “I was expecting to go a bit faster. We’ll see what happens tomorrow with the 100m free. I’m clearly not ready for this meet. I will decide after Amsterdam if I am really going to go after the 100 [at French Olympic trials] in Montpellier.”

Women’s 100 Meter Freestyle – Final

The women closed out the first day of the meet with a competitive 100 free. French national record-holder in the 50 free, Anna Santamans of Nice, edged Margaux Fabre of Montpellier, 53.41 to 53.76, for the win. Mathilde Cini of Valence rounded out the podium with 54.20.