2025 French Elite Championships: Day 5 Finals Live Recap

2025 FRENCH ELITE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Saturday, June 14th – Thursday, June 19th, 2025
• Prelims at 8 am local (2 am ET)/Finals at 6 pm local (Noon ET)
• Montpellier, France
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Entries
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Live Recaps
  • Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

The penultimate night of action from the 2025 French Elite Championships will have a bit of everything with finals in a pair of 200s, three 50s, and the timed final of the men’s 1500 freestyle.

The 1500 free will lead things off, with 33-year-old Damien Joly coming in as the favorite as he owns the top seed by nearly 20 seconds at 14:45.52, the best time he produced at last summer’s Olympics to crack the final, ultimately finishing 8th.

David Aubry, who set the French Record in Paris in 14:44.66, won the 800 free earlier in the meet but has dropped the 1500 from his program here.

Marc-Antoine Olivier, who beat Joly by over two seconds in the 800 free to place 2nd to Aubry, will be in the hunt, though he hasn’t broken 15:00 since 2021.

The headlining event of the session is arguably the men’s 50 free, with Maxime Grousset seeking his third victory of the meet after claiming the top seed this morning in 21.73, just 16 one-hundredths shy of his personal best (21.57).

Rafael Fente Damers, who was the runner-up to Grousset in the 100 free to punch his ticket to Worlds, qualified 2nd into the final in 22.06, well under his previous personal best (22.50) and just .01 shy of the French qualifying standard for U23 swimmers (Fente Damers is 18).

The women’s 50 fly will feature National Record holder Melanie Henique and 100 fly record holder Marie Wattel, who qualified 1-2 out of the prelims with respective times of 26.02 and 26.40, and will need to get down to 25.75 in the final to qualify for Worlds.

Tonight will also feature the women’s 200 back, women’s 50 breast and men’s 200 breast, though no one was within striking distance of the French qualifying time in this morning’s heats. Pauline Mahieu will have a solid chance in the women’s 200 back, however, having won the 100 earlier in the meet and qualified for Singapore.

See the full Day 5 prelims recap here.

Men’s 1500 Freestyle – Timed Final

• World Record: 14:30.67, Bobby Finke (USA) – 2024
• World Junior Record: 14:41.22, Kuzey Tuncelli (TUR) – 2024
• French Record: 14:44.66, David Aubry – 2024
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 15:00.99

1. Damien Joly (Stade de Vanves), 14:58.78
2. Marc-Antoine Olivier (Dunkerque Natation), 15:20.26
3. Emile Vincent (Chambery), 15:22.56
4. Colin Jacobs (CN Antibes), 15:24.74
5. Jules Wallart (Dunkerque Natation), 15:39.42
6. Simon Barbieux (Club Vikings de Rouen), 15:40.03
7. Adrien Espriet (Lille Metropole Natation), 15:43.60
8. Teo Puig (Club Vikings de Rouen), 15:50.55

Damien Joly cruised to dominant victory in the men’s 1500 freestyle, punching his ticket to the 2025 World Championships with a solid showing of 14:58.78.

The 33-year-old gets under the French Worlds standard (15:00.99) by just over two seconds, nearly even-splitting his way (7:28.25/7:30.53) to a decisive victory.

Joly owns a lifetime best of 14:45.52, set in the prelims at last summer’s Olympics, where he made the final and finished 8th.

Placing a distant 2nd was open water ace Marc-Antoine Olivier, who kept pace with Joly through the first 750 but really fell off after that, touching in 15:20.26. Olivier had been significantly faster, 15:12.91, last month at the Giant Open.

Emile Vincent, who set a PB of 15:10.64 at the Canet leg of the Mare Nostrum Tour, rounded out the top three in 15:22.56, while Colin Jacobs, who has spent time training with the Sarasota Sharks, clocked 15:24.74 from the early heats to place 4th overall. Jacobs set a best time of 15:16.33 last month in Canet.

Women’s 200 Backstroke – Final

• World Record: 2:03.14, Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 2023
• World Junior Record: 2:03.35, Regan Smith (USA) – 2019
• French Record: 2:06.64, Laure Manaudou – 2008
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 2:10.39

1. Pauline Mahieu (Canet 66 Natation), 2:08.28
2. Lou-Anne Guiton (Stade Bethune Pelican Club), 2:11.66
3. Bertille Cousson (Stade Bethune Pelican Club), 2:12.19
4. Fanny Borer (Mulhouse), 2:14.66
5. Carla Mailharrou (Club Vikings de Rouen), 2:14.95
6. Manon Domingeon (Grenoble Alp’38), 2:15.50
7. Oriane Lefebvre (Dauphins Toulouse Oec), 2:16.14
8. Claire Bourse (CN Brest), 2:19.65

Pauline Mahieu fired off a massive best time in the women’s 200 back, dropping exactly one second to earn a dominant victory in 2:08.28.

Mahieu, who had previously been 2:09.28 almost a year ago to the today (June 19, 2024), went out fast, turning in 1:02.27 at the 100, and held strong coming home to get more than two seconds under the Worlds qualifying time of 2:10.39, ranking her 17th in the world this seasona nd giving her two individual events in Singapore. She previously qualified by winning the 100 back.

Lou-Anne Guiton had a strong back-half to touch 2nd in 2:11.66, splitting 1:05.42/1:06.24 to come just over seven-tenths shy of her lifetime best of 2:10.95 set in March.

Bertille Cousson took 3rd in 2:12.19, having set a best time of 2:10.89 at last month’s Giant Open.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke – Final

• World Record: 29.16, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 2023
• World Junior Record: 29.30, Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 2021
• French Record: 30.82, Charlotte Bonnet – 2023
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 30.35

1. Florine Gaspard (Belgium), 30.64
2. Giulia Rossi-Bene (Canet 66 Natation), 31.24
3. Chloe Braun (Dauphins Toulouse Oec), 31.55
4. Lucie Vasquez (Es Massy Natation), 32.29
5. Adele Blanchetiere (Dauphins Toulouse Oec), 32.35
6. Lilou Girardet (Dauphins De St-Louis), 32.45
7. Romane Hereng (Montpellier Metropole Natation), 33.11
8. (DSQ) – Zia Dupon

Belgian Florine Gaspard dominated the women’s 50 breaststroke final, winning by six-tenths in a time of 30.64 to come within striking distance of her National Record of 30.53 set in 2023.

Gaspard improves on her season-best of 30.72 and moves up two spots into 16th in the 2024-25 world rankings.

The top French finisher was Giulia Rossi-Bene, who broke 32 seconds for the first time in the prelims (31.79) and then got down to 31.24 in the final, bringing her lifetime best down by over nine-tenths over the course of the day (entered with 32.15).

Chloe Braun also set a new lifetime best to place 3rd in 31.55, lowering her previous mark of 31.63 set in April at the Fran Crippen Swim Meet of Champions.

Men’s 200 Breaststroke – Final

• World Record: 2:05.48, Qin Haiyang (CHN) – 2023
• World Junior Record: 2:08.04, Dong Zhihao (CHN) – 2023
• French Record: 2:05.85, Leon Marchand – 2024
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 2:09.68

1. Antoine Marc (Mulhouse), 2:10.78
2. Antoine Viquerat (Racing Club de France), 2:11.99
3. Corentin Mouton (En Caen), 2:13.19
4. Yamato Okadome (Japan), 2:13.30
5. Carl Aitkaci (Etoiles 92), 2:13.66
6. Melaine Laine (Etoiles 92), 2:14.03
7. Borys Endle (Mulhouse), 2:14.83
8. Jacques Saletes (Dauphins Toulouse Oec), 2:16.48

Antoine Marc, competing on his 29th birthday, pulled away from Antoine Viquerat on the final 50 to claim the win int he men’s 200 breaststroke, falling shy of the Worlds qualifying time by 1.10 seconds in 2:10.78.

Marc owns a lifetime best of 2:09.68, the exact French cut for Singapore, and has been sub-2:10 one other time in his career, clocking 2:09.91 last July.

Viquerat, who was also 2:09.9 last year, only mustered a time of 2:11.99 after fading on the last 50, while Corentin Mouton lowered his best time from the prelims by over a second in 2:13.19 to snag 3rd.

Yamato Okadome, a Japanese swimmer who was a freshman this past NCAA season at Cal, clocked 2:13.30 for 4th, edging out Carl Aitkaci (2:13.66). Okadome has been as fast as 2:12.19, set back in 2022.

Women’s 50 Butterfly – Final

• World Record: 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2014
• World Junior Record: 25.46, Rikako Ikee (JPN) – 2017
• French Record: 25.17, Melanie Henique – 2021
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 25.75

1. Melanie Henique (CN Marseille), 25.97
2. Marie Wattel (Montpellier Metropole Natation), 26.19
3. Jeanne De Murcia (AC Molsheim Mutzig), 26.35
4. Andreanne Bourseul (Nantes Natation), 26.52
5. Maty Ndoye-Brouard (Dauphins D’Annecy), 26.57
6. Alix Predine (Amiens Metropole Natation), 26.84
7. Albane Cachot (Dauphins Toulouse Oec), 26.95
8. Lili-Rose Berthelot (AS Roanne Natation), 27.08

Veteran Melanie Henique picked up a victory in the women’s 50 fly final in a time of 25.97, marking her first sub-26 swim of the season.

The 32-year-old had previously been 26.03 this year, but maintains her place as the 23rd-fastest swimmer in the world this season. She also fell short of the French qualifying time for Worlds of 25.75.

Marie Wattel was the runner-up in 26.19, establishing a new season-best, while Jeanne De Murcia set a new personal best of 26.35 to round out the podium.

Men’s 50 Freestyle – Final

• World Record: 20.91, Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 2009
• World Junior Record: 21.75, Michael Andrew (USA) – 2017
• French Record: 20.94, Frederick Bousquet – 2009
• French World Championship Qualifying Time: 21.96

1. Maxime Grousset (CS Clichy 92), 21.68
2. Nikita Baez (Lyon Natation Metropole), 21.69
3. Rafael Fente Damers (Dauphins D’Annecy) / Nans Mazellier (ASEC Natation Saint-Paul Reunion), 21.98
4. –
5. Matteo Robba (Olympic Nice Natation), 22.07
6. Samuel Hardy (Montpellier Metropole Natation), 22.30
7. Falemana Tuufui (CN Marseille), 22.34
8. Cedric Gabali (Villejuif Natation), 22.60

Maxime Grousset pulled out a narrow victory in the men’s 50 free as he had a surprise challenger in Nikita Baez.

Grousset put up a time of 21.68 to improve his season-best time from the prelims (21.73) while moving into a tie for 9th in the 2024-25 world rankings, while Baez posted a shocking time of 21.69 to finish just .01 back in a massive best time.

Baez held a best time of 22.11 coming into the meet, and went 22.08 in the prelims before dropping nearly four-tenths from that time in the final, breaking 22 seconds for the first time and qualifying him for the World Championships. He moves to 12th in the world rankings.

Rafael Fente Damers and Nans Mazellier broke 22 for the first time as well, tying for 3rd in 21.98. Fente Damers set a PB of 22.06 in the prelims, while Mazellier’s previous best stood at 22.30.

Baez now ranks 7th all-time among Frenchmen, while Fente Damers and Mazellier crack the top 10 in a tie for 9th.

All-Time French Performers, Men’s 50 Freestyle (LCM)

1. Frederick Bousquet, 20.94 – 2009
2. Florent Manauodu, 21.19 – 2015
3. Alain Bernard, 21.23 – 2009
4. Amaury Leveaux, 21.25 – 2009
5. Maxime Grousset, 21.57 – 2022
6. Fabien Gilot, 21.65 – 2009
7. Nikita Baez, 21.69 – 2025
8. Clement Mignon, 21.91 – 2020
9. Rafael Fente Damers / Nans Mazellier, 21.98 – 2025 / 2025
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