2024 Mare Nostrum Canet: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2024 MARE NOSTRUM – CANET-EN-ROUSSILLON

• Saturday, May 25th & Sunday, May 26th
• Prelims at 9am local (3am ET)/Finals at 5:30pm local (11:30am ET)
• Canet, France
• LCM (50m)
• Olympic Qualifying Event
• Meet Central
• Entries
• Day 1 Prelims Recap | Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap
• Live Results
• Livestream

MEN’S 50 BREAST – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Felipe Lima – 26.33 (2019)

GOLD – Taku Taniguchi (JPN), 27.49
SILVER – Koen De Groot (NED), 27.59
BRONZE – Carl Aitkaci (FRA), 28.15

Today’s sessions started out on a rather subdued note as only 2 swimmers clocked times under the 28-second barrier in this men’s 50m breaststroke.

Japan’s Taku Taniguchi maintained his top spot from this morning’s heats, dropping nearly half a second to wind up at the wall in 27.49 for gold.

Koen De Groot of the Netherlands was only .10 behind in 27.59 while France got on the board, courtesy of Carl Aitkaci earning bronze in 28.15.

All 3 times sit well outside the list of top 30 performers worldwide on the season.

WOMEN’S 50 BREAST – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Ruta Meilutyte – 29.88 (2015)

GOLD – Sophie Hansson (SWE), 30.59
SILVER – Skyler Smith (USA), 30.80
BRONZE – Letitia Sim (SGP), 30.95

It was a tightly-contested battle to the finish in this women’s 50m breast, but 25-year-old Sophie Hansson of Sweden triumphed with a time of 30.59.

That outing overtook her previous season-best of 30.68 from last year’s World Cup Series and checks in as the 10th-quickest time of the Olympian’s career.

USA’s Skyler Smith, formerly of the University of North Carolina, snagged silver in 30.80 while Singapore’s Letitia Sim fell just shy of her lifetime best and national record of 30.92 notched at last December’s Japan Open.

MEN’S 50 FLY – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Andrii Govorov – 22.53 (2018)

GOLD – Nyls Korstanje (NED), 23.22
SILVER – Szebasztian Szabo (HUN), 23.47
BRONZE – Dylan Carter (TTO), 23.50

Two of the top three finishers from the 2023 edition of this meet landed on the podium once again, although Trinidad & Tobago’s Dylan Carter fell from gold to bronze with tonight’s race.

Carter checked in with a time of 23.50 for 3rd behind Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo who maintained his silver medal position from 2023. He was 23.40 last year and 23.47 this time around.

Taking the gold was former NC State standout Nyls Korstanje, with the 25-year-old punching an effort of 23.22. He’s already been as swift as 22.90 this season, a time he put on the books at April’s Swim Open Stockholm to rank #2 in the world.

Of note, reigning world record holder Andrii Govorov of Ukraine placed 7th this evening in 23.83.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Sarah Sjostrom – 24.76 (2017)

GOLD – Sara Junevik (SWE), 25.74
SILVER – Melanie Henique (FRA), 25.86
BRONZE – Neza Klancar (SLO), 26.28

With Swedish speedster Sarah Sjostrom not competing in Canet despite her entries, it was countrywoman Sara Junevik who stepped up for the gold in tonight’s 50m fly final.

Junevik crushed a winning effort of 25.74, tying her best-ever result from when she first nailed the time last year. That garnered her 6th place in the final at the 2023 World Championships.

Melanie Henique of the host nation settled for silver tonight in 25.86, just as she did last year in 25.77, and Slovenia’s Neza Klancar produced a mark of 26.28 as the bronze medalist.

MEN’S 800 FREE – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Henrik Christiansen – 7:48.19 (2019)
• OQT – 7:51.65

GOLD – Ahmed Jaouadi (TUN), 7:52.44
SILVER – Damien Joly (FRA), 7:56.90
BRONZE – Rami Ramouni (TUN), 8:01.60

The nation of Tunisia landed on the podium with a 1 & 3 punch, courtesy of Ahmed Jaouadi and Rami Ramouni. The former touched the time pad in 7:52.44 to notch one of two times under the 8:00 barrier while Ramouni captured bronze in 8:01.60.

Splitting the pair was French ace Damien Joly who turned in a silver medal-worthy result of 7:56.90.

As reigning Olympic champion Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia has stated he’s most likely out of this year’s Paris Games, teammate Jaouadi is left to carry the torch in the men’s 400m frthe ee, which he won last night, as well as this 800m.

Although Jaouadi’s effort this evening is still short of the 7:51.65 World Aquatics Olympic Qualification Time needed for Paris 2024. His season-best remains at the slightly quicker 7:51.97 produced at this year’s Giant Series in March.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Camille Muffat – 4:02.97 (2012)
• OQT – 4:07.90

GOLD – Anastasia Kirpichnikova (FRA), 4:08.99 & Valentine Dumont (BEL), 4:08.99
BRONZE – Waka Kobori (JPN), 4:09.49

Russian-turned-French swimmer Anastasia Kirpichnikova battled all the way to the wall with Belgium’s Valentine Dumont, with the duo ultimately touching in identical times of 4:08.99.

For 23-year-old Kirpichnikova, the women’s 1500m freestyle winner from last night just put up a new season-best, overtaking the 4:09.36 nabbed in Saint-Germain-En-Laye this past March.

As for Dumont, the swimmer who is also 23 years of age, threw down the 3rd-best time of her young career. Only her performances of 4:06.27 and 4:08.81, both from last year, rank ahead.

Japan got on the board with Waka Kobori bagging bronze in 4:09.49, the only other result of the pack in sub-4:10-second territory.

MEN’S 100 BACK – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Ryosuke Irie – 53.00 (2022)
• OQT – 53.74

GOLD – Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA), 53.59
SILVER – Srihari Nataraj (IND), 54.68
BRONZE – Adam Jaszo (HUN), 54.88

2022 European Championships multi-medalist Yohann Ndoye-Brouard won his 2nd consecutive Canet gold medal in this men’s 100m back. The 23-year-old turned in a time of 53.59, already beneath the OQT of 53.74, to beat the field by over a second.

Runner-up status went to India’s Srihari Nataraj who hit 54.68, well off his national record of 53.77 he established at the 2021 Sette Colli Trophy.

The men’s 50m back victor here, Adam Jaszo of Hungary, rounded out the podium in 54.88. As of right now, Jaszo is qualified for the Olympic Games with his season-best 53.35.

However, per the Hungarian selection policies, swimmers have until the June 23rd window closure to clock Paris-worthy times. As long as no 2 other swimmers beat his effort, he’ll have made the cut.

As for Ndoye-Brouard, we’ll see what he has in the tank at next month’s French Elite Championships. He’s been as quick as 52.50 in his career from the 2022 World Championships.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Kylie Masse – 58.57 (2022)
• OQT – 59.99

GOLD – Ingrid Wilm (CAN), 59.90
SILVER – Emma Terebo (FRA), 1:00.11
BRONZE – Mary-Ambre Moluh (FRA), 1:00.44

Canadian Ingrid Wilm reaped gold for her nation in this women’s 100m back, posting the sole sub-minute result of the field.

Splitting 29.06/30.84, Wilm registered a time of 59.90, beating the next-closest racer, Emma Terebo if the host nation by .21.

Terebo, who already won 200m back yesterday, notched 1:00.11 while teammate Mary-Ambre Moluh earned bronze in 1:00.44.

Wilm earned the silver in this event at the just-concluded Canadian Trials, producing a time there of 59.31 there in Toronto. Kylie Masse was 57.94 to take the top spot in the event.

MEN’S 200 BREAST – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Arno Kamminga – 2:07.23 (2021)
• OQT – 2:09.68

GOLD – Ippei Watanabe (JPN), 2:07.62
SILVER – Yu Hanaguruma (JPN), 2:08.40
BRONZE – Antoine Marc (FRA), 2:10.92

The nation of Japan demonstrated once again why it is one of the most lethal opponents in the men’s 200m breaststroke.

Former world record holder Ippei Watanabe unleashed a time of 2:07.62 to top the podium, splitting 1:01.35/1:06.27 in the process.

The 27-year-old already ranks #1 in the world this season due to the 2:06.94 he threw down for gold and Paris qualification at March’s Japanese Olympic Trials. For perspective, Watanabe earned gold last year in Canet in a much slower 2:10.08.

Teammate Yu Hanaguruma also qualified for Paris at Trials as a result of his speedy 2:07.07 in Tokyo, a PB by nearly a second. Tonight, Hanaguruma was 2:08.40, still enough to score the silver.

Domestic athlete Antoine Marc was 3rd in line but over 2 seconds back in 2:10.92

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Rikke Moller-Pederson – 2:19.67 (2014)
• OQT – 2:23.91

GOLD – Jessica Vall (ESP), 2:25.92
SILVER – Letitia Sim (SGP), 2:27.51
BRONZE – Kara Hanlon (GBR), 2:28.66

Spaniard Jessica Vall stopped the clock in a time of 2:25.92 to decisively win the women’s edition of the 200m breast.

That earned the gold ahead of Singapore’s Letitia Sim who earned silver in 2:27.51 while British swimmer Kara Hanlon touched in 2:28.66 for the bronze.

Of note, two-time IM Olympic champion at the 2020 Games, Yui Ohashi settled for 4th in this ‘off’ event, hitting 2:30.95.

MEN’S 200 FLY – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Kristof Milak – 1:53.89 (2022)
• OQT – 1:55.78

GOLD – Tomoru Honda (JPN), 1:54.58
SILVER – Genki Terakado (JPN), 1:55.87
BRONZE – Kuan-hung Wang (TPE), 1:56.49

Japan earned another gold, this time at the hands of reigning 200m fly world champion Tomoru Honda.

The Olympic silver medalist posted a head-turning time of 1:54.58, putting his prowess on display with Paris on the horizon. This is the 22-year-old’s 2nd consecutive Canet victory, winning the event last year in 1:55.09.

Just as it happened at the Japanese Olympic Trials, Genki Terakado earned silver, producing 1:55.87. Terakado pulled the minor upset in the 100m fly last night ahead of French world champion from 2023 Maxime Grousset.

Taipai’s national record holder Kuan-hung Wang bagged bronze in 1:56.49 and Olympic champion Chad Le Clos was shut out of the podium in 4th in 1:58.20.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Suzuka Hasegawa – 2:06.70 (2017)
• OQT – 2:08.43

GOLD – Sarah Dumont (BEL), 2:09.92
SILVER – Maria Mata Cocco (MEX), 2:10.54
BRONZE – Julia Pujadas Rusinol (ESP), 2:11.01

Sarah Dumont just produced the best time of her career en route to grabbing the women’s 200m fly gold.

The Belgian unleashed a time of 2:09.92 to hack nearly a second off the longstanding national record 2:10.78 Valentine Dumont put on the books in the semi-final of the 2017 European Junior Championships.

Entering this competition, Dumont’s lifetime best rested at the 2:10.89 logged for gold at last month’s Belgian Championships. That means she slashed about a second en route to gold this evening (1:02.32/1:07.60).

Mexico’s Maria Mata Cocco turned in a time of 2:10.54 and Spain’s Julia Pujadas Rusinol also landed on the podium in 2:11.01, good enough for bronze.

MEN’S 100 FREE – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Nathan Adrian – 48.08 (2014)
• OQT – 48.34

GOLD – Maxime Grousset (FRA), 48.71
SILVER – Dylan Carter (TTO), 48.97
BRONZE – Katsuhiro Matsumoto (JPN), 49.13

Frenchman Maxime Grousset maintained the pole position from out of the heats, capturing gold in the men’s 100m free in 48.71. That shaved .09 off the 48.80 nabbed this morning for his 2nd sub-49-second result of the day.

TTO’s Dylan Carter clocked a time of 48.97 to join him in the sub-49-second party and Japan’s Katsuhiro Matsumoto registered 49.13 for bronze.

While Grousset will battle for Olympic qualification at next month’s French Elite Championships, Matsumoto secured his qualification with his gold medal-winning 48.28 at the Japanese Trials. Carter is also seeking to dip under the 48.34 OQT barrier.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Sarah Sjostrom – 52.08 (2017)
• OQT – 53.61

GOLD – Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 52.55
SILVER – Marrit Steenbergen (NED), 53.55
BRONZE – Beryl Gastaldell0 (FRA), 53.89

Winning her 3rd gold of this competition, Hong Kong Olympic medalist Siobhan Haughey wowed the crowd with a powerful performance in this women’s 100m free.

The 26-year-old former University of Michigan Wolverine punched a time of 52.55 to beat the field by a second, logging her 2nd best time of the season. Her season-best and PB remains at the 52.05 Hong Kong national record she set during the 2023 World Cup Series.

The reigning world champion in this event, Dutch ace Marrit Steenbergen, touched in 53.55 for silver and French speedster Beryl Gastaldello bagged bronze in 53.89.

Steenbergen earned gold in Doha with her lifetime best of 52.26. Gastaldello was quicker in the morning, claiming the top seed in 53.77. Her career boasts a best-ever 53.40 from December 2020.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Hugo Gonzalez – 1:56.31 (2021)
• OQT – 1:57.94

GOLD – Tomoyuki Matsushita (JPN), 1:58.87
SILVER – Jaouad Syoud (ALG), 2:01.80
BRONZE – Jacques Saletes (FRA), 2:03.64

The men’s 200m IM was lackluster, with only Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita scoring a result under the 2:00 barrier.

Matsushita produced an effort of 1:58.87 to top the podium. He is qualified for the Paris 2024 Games in the 400m IM after crushing a monster personal best of 4:10.04 at March’s Trials.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINAL

• Mare Nostrum record: Katinka Hosszu – 4:30.75 (2016)
• OQT – 4:38.53

GOLD – Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR), 4:36.95
SILVER – Mio Narita (JPN), 4:38.23
BRONZE – Waka Kobori (JPN), 4:38.38

20-year-old Anastasia Gorbenko produced her 2nd Israeli national record in as many days at this competition.

Wrapping up the meet, Gorbenko ripped a new lifetime best of 4:36.95 to take women’s 400m IM gold. Her result overtook her own previous Israeli standard of 4:37.36 established at this year’s World Championships. That garnered her the silver medal in Doha. Look for a subsequent post on her record-setting performance.

Japan’s 17-year-old Mio Narita logged a solid performance of her own, reaching the wall in 4:38.23 and teammate Waka Kobori cleared bronze in 4:38.38. Kobori earlier raced in the 400m free for an impressive double.

Narita won this event at the Japanese Trials, posting a new lifetime best and Japanese High School Record of 4:35.40 in Tokyo.