2025 French Elite Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2025 FRENCH ELITE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Saturday, June 14th – Thursday, June 19th
• Prelims at 8am local (2am ET)/Finals at 6pm local (Noon ET)
• Montpellier, France
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Entries
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Live Recaps
  • Day 1 | Day 2

Bon Soir Mes Amis et Bienvenue. The third finals session of the 2025 French Elite Championships is about to get underway. Swimmers from across France will be looking for a berth on the team to Singapore or for a spot on the U23 European squad.

The session kicks off with the men’s 800 freestyle, where top seeds David Aubry, the national record holder, will look to fend off the likes of Damien Joly.

From there we progress though the Women’s 200 fly, men’s 100 free, women’s 50 back, men’s 200 fly and we conclude with the women’s 200 free. While Leon Marchand is absent from this meet, there are still plenty of stars in action and today is no exception.

After winning the 50 fly on night 1, Maxime Grousset returns to action in the 100 free. The top seed, Grousset, put up a time this morning faster than his time from the Olympic Final, and if he can replicate that performance tonight, he could be a medal contender in Singapore. Taking 2nd this morning was Rafael Fente-Damers, the same man who finished 2nd to him at Trials last summer. Fente-Damers, too, was faster than he was in Paris at the Olympics, and he will be chasing the vaunted 48.00 barrier tonight.

The women’s 50 back also brings the action as top seed Mary-Ambre Moluh undercut the qualifying standard with her morning swim. It won’t be a cakewalk, however, as she has the likes of Analie Pigree, the national record holder, and Pauline Mahieu looking to displace her.

Men’s 800 Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• World Record: 7:32.12 – Zhang Lin, CHN (2009)
• World Junior Record: 7:43.37 – Lorenzo Galossi, ITA (2022)
• French Record: 7:42.08 – David Aubry, (2019)
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 7:48.66

Top 8

1. David Aubry (Montpellier) – 7:48.41
2. Marc-Antonie Olivier (Dunkerque) – 7:49.14
3. Damien Joly (Stade de Vanve) – 7:51.40
4. Rami Rahmouni (U.S Cretiel) – 7:56.15
5. Emile Vincent (Stade Olympic Chambery) – 7:58.75
6. Colin Jacobs (CN Antibes) – 8:02.02
7. Romain Raguenaud (Clamart Natation 92) – 8″03.02
8. Jules Wallart (Dunkerque) – 8:03.36

David Aubry, the national record holder, took the final heat in a time of 7:48.41, just barely undercutting the World Championship qualifying time of 7:48.66. Aubry and runner-up Marc-Antonie Olivier were tied at the 100, but it was all Olivier for the next 300 as the Rio bronze medalist in the 10km, asserted his authority on the field.

At the 400, Olivier turned in 3:52.78, nearly three seconds ahead of Aubry (3:55.41) and just over three seconds ahead of Damien Joly (3:55.82). Aubry and Joly started to reel in the open-water specialist with the pair out splitting him over the next two 100s, so that the lead was well under two seconds.

Olivier faltered on the 7th 100 splitting over a minute, giving up the lead to Aubry, by over a second, but dropped a massive 56.76 last 100 to nearly retake the lead from Aubry’s whose 57.10 gave him the edge by .73. Settling for 2nd was Olivier in 7:49.14 with Joly back in 3rd at 7:51.40.

Keeping the Tunisian tradition of distance freestyle, Rami Rahmouni, placed 4th in 7:56.15, a little off his PB of 7:52.80

Women’s 200 Butterfly– Finals

• World Record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige, CHN (2009)
• World Junior Record: 2:03.03 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• French Record: 2:05.09 – Aurore Mongel, (2009)
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 2:08.43

Top 8

1. Lilou Ressencourt (Olympic Nice Natation) – 2:08.81
2. Kamonchanok Kwanmuang (Thailand) – 2:09.70
3. Soizic Geldmann (CLamart Natation 92) -2:11.95
4. Lea Muser (Etoiles 92) – 2:13.98
5. Lili-Rose Berthelot (As Roanne Natation) – 2:14.04
6. Clara Mougenot (ES Massy Natation) – 2:16.36
7. Camille Cottier (ES Massy Natation) – 2:18.50
8. Lucie Christophe (Grenoble Alp’38) – 2:18.76

It was a very strong swim by Lilou Ressencourt to get within half a second of the qualifying standard. The top-seeded Frenchwomen, trailing Thailand’s Kamonchanok Kwanmuang, took out the swim fast opening in 29.32 and 32.45 to post a 100 split of 1:01.77, nearly a full second ahead of the Thai swimmer and a full second ahead of the next closest domestic competitor, Soizic Gelfman.

Ressencourt, who joined Cal this season and placed 11th in yards version of the race at NCAAs this past March, tried to keep that early speed but started to slip back as she split 33.02 and 34.02 to ultimately touch the wall in 2:08.81, .38 shy of the qualifying standard. Despite that she should still be content with the swim as it improves upon PB of 2:09.30 from Trials last summer.

Both Ressencourt and Kwanmuang’s times were under the B-Cut World Aquatics times, so both could swim the event in Singapore. Ressencourt’s time was actually under the A-cut time of 2:09.21, and having made the team in the 100 fly, she may have the option to add the event to her line-up. As for Kwanmuang, the Thai swimmer who made the semifinals in the event in Doha, she too could swim the event in Singapore should she be named to her Federation’s team.

Men’s 100 Freestyle – Finals

• World Record: 46.40 – Pan Zhanle, CHN (2024)
• World Junior Record: 46.86 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• French Record: 46.94 – Alain Bernard, (2009)
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 48.34

Top 8

1. Maxime Grousset (CS Clichy 92) – 47.50
2. Rafael Fente Damers (Dauphins D’Annecy) – 48.02
3. Nans Mezellier (A ASEC) – 48.21
4. Ethan Dumesnil (Olympique Noumea) – 48.76
5. Yann Le Goff (C Paul-Bert Rennes) – 49.04
6. Alexandre Chalender (CN Marseille) – 49.16
7. Guillaume Guth (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) -49.21
8. Roman Fuchs (Amiens Metropole) – 49.24

Maxime Grousset made in two for two in finals as he earned his 2nd win of the week, adding the 100 free to his gold in the 50 fly. Grousset, the 3rd fastest Frenchman behind Alain Bernard and Fred Bousquet, blasted his way to early lead and never looked back.

Out in 22.41, half a second clear of the field, Grousset, a two time Worlds Medalist in this event, closed in 25.09 to stop the clock in 47.50. While shy of his PB of 47.33, from last summer, the performance tonight was his 3rd fastest ever, and ties for 10th fastest in French history.

Rafael Fente Damers, too, nearly broke a milestone as the 18-year-old almost joined the sub-48 club as his 48.02 earned him the runner-up spot on the podium behind Grousset. Already the fastest 18-year-old in French history, his swim today knocked .12 off his old PB and safely qualified him for the Worlds team. The Texas commit was the only other swimmer out under 23, as he opened in 22.91 and closed in 25.11.

Nans Manzellier and Ethan Dumesnil rounded out the 3rd and 4th spots, hitting the wall in 48.21 and 48.76, and likely will round out France’s 4×100 free relay, should they opt to swim the event in Singapore.

Women’s 50 Backstroke– Finals

• World Record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2023)
• World Junior Record: 27.49 – Minna Atherton, AUS (2016)
• French Record: 27.27 – Analia Pigree, (2022)
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 27.72

Top 8

1. Analia Pigree (Canet 66) – 27.36
2. Mary-Ambre Moluh (U.S. Creteil) – 27.43
3. Pauline Mahieu (Canet 66) – 27.84
4. Zoe Carlos-Broc (ES Massy) – 28.77
5. Lison Nowaczyk (Stade Bethune Pelican Club) – 29.12
6. Amel Melih (Villeurbanne Natation) – 29.19
7. Maty Ndoye-Brouard (Dauphins D’Annecy) – 29.59
8. Andreanne Bourseil (Nantes) – 29.63

Not content to play second or in this case third fiddle after this morning’s prelims, Analia Pigree rocketed to a win in the 50 backstroke this evening. The national record holder, who touched 3rd this morning with a time of 28.50, knocked off more than second to touch first tonight and book herself a spot to Singapore after having finished 3rd in the finals of the 100 back yesterday.

Showing off the speed that earned her a Worlds bronze medal in 2022, Pigree, nearly rewrote her national record as her 27.36 was just .09 off her best. Her performance tonight clocks in as her and her nation’s 3rd fastest ever.

After qualifying first into the final tonight with a time of 27.68, Mary-Ambre Moluh had to settle for 2nd, the same spot she finished in the 100 back. Her time tonight, was an improvement upon her outing from this morning. While not slashing over a second as Pigree did, Moluh cut .25 to stop the clock in 27.43, not only a new PB of exactly .2 but also breaking Pigree’s stranglehold atop the French rankings. Before tonight, she had owned the top 10 fastest performances, but now Moluh slots into 6th place.

Continuing the trend of a reversal of the 100 back podium Pauline Mahieu, the winner in the 100, finished 3rd tonight. She, like Moluh, dropped a time to record a new PB of 27.84.

Men’s 200 Butterfly – Finals

• World Record: 1:50.34 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2022)
• World Junior Record: 1:53.79 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2017)
• French Record: 1:51.21 – Leon Marchand (2024)
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 1:55.78

Top 8

1. Clement Secchi (CN Marseille) – 1:58.14
2. Sandro Henras-Marouf (ASPTT Toulouse) – 1:58.73
3. Noyan Taylan (Clamart Natation 92) – 1:59.85
4. Tom Remy (Charleville-Mezieres) – 2:00.17
5. Belhassen Ben Miled (SC Thionville) – 2:00.35
6. Martin Beauger (ES Massy Natation) – 2:00.50
7. Angel Exposito (Grenoble Alp’38) – 2:02.37
8. Amaury Albar (CN Brest) – 2:03.32

The qualifying standard of 1:55.78 was always going to be a tough ask, especially for top seed Clement Secchi, who is more oriented toward the sprint fly events. The only swimmer this morning under 2:00, Secchi led for nearly the entire race. After touching 2nd to Angel Exposito at the 50 turn, Secchi jumped to the front and never looked back.

Opening in 26.18/30.32, to hit the halfway point at 56.50, Secchi remained smooth on the last 100, negative splitting it by swimming 30.85/30.79 to stop the clock in 1:58.14. Runner-up Sandro Henras-Marouf shadowed Secchi for much of the race as he was .49 back at the 100, and was exactly the same margin back at the 150 turn, as the pair had identical splits. It was only Secchi’s turn of speed on the last 50 that Henras-Marouf couldn’t match, as he came home in 30.99 to stop the clock in 1:58.73.

Exposito paid for his early speed and wound up being passed by six other swimmers to finish in 7th overall, including by the 3rd place finisher Noyan Taylan. Taylan had a great swim last summer as he finished 2nd to only Marchand in a PB of 1:56.17, becoming the 4th fastest Frenchman of all time. Tonight, however, he was unable to match that success as he finished 3rd in 1:59.85.

Women’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

• World Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2024)
• World Junior Record: 1:53.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2023)
• French Record: 1:54.66 – Camille Muffat (2012)
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 1:57.26

Top 8

1. Marina Jehl (Canet 66) – 1:58.17
2. Lucile Tessariol (Dauphins Toulouse) – 1:58.39
3. Albane Cachot (Dauphins Toulouse) – 2:00.34
4. Giulia Rossi-Bene (Canet 66) – 2:00.70
5. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (Montpellier) – 2:00.93
6. Maeline Bessard (Grenoble Alp’38) – 2:01.56
7. Eloise Riley (Etoiles ’92) – 2:01.64
8. Valentine Leclercq (Grenoble Alp’38) – 2:02.77

It may have been tactics this morning in the prelims with no swimmer breaking the 2:00 barrier, but that certainly was not the case this morning as Olympians Marina Jehl and Lucile Tessariol each blasted their way to new PBs.

Last summer at Trials, Jehl finished 2nd in a new PB of 2:00.04, while Tessariol took the crown in 1:59.29, off her PB of 1:58.42, from her gold medal performance at the European U23 meet. While both recorded new bests tonight, it was Jehl’s 1:58.17 that is turning heads.

One of four swimmers out in under 28, Jehl opened up quickest in 27.40 and never relinquished the lead. Leading by just .02 over the top seed Albane Cachot, Jehl kept up her momentum and was 29.87 on the 2nd 50 to hit the halfway point in 57.27. Coming home in 30.40/30.50, Jehl sliced nearly two seconds off her PB to stop the clock in 1:58.17. Her new time ranks her as the 9th fastest performer in French history, the first addition to the list since 2018.

Tessariol was not out as fast, opening in 28.04 and 29.93 to flip at the 100 wall in 57.97, but she did close on the early leader hard, coming home in 30.28 and 30.14, making up nearly half a second to touch in a close 2nd at 1:58.39.

Jehl’s time undercut the World Aquatics A-cut time of 1:58.23, so should she go to Singapore, she could swim the event. If the French opt to swim the 4×200 free relay, Jehl and Tessariol will likely be joined by the 3rd place finisher Cachot (2:00.34) and Giulia Rossi-Benne, who placed 4th in 2:00.70.