Nathan Muratory Sets Two French Junior Records At U18 Championships

French U18 Championships

• May 25-30, 2026
• Chalon-sur-Saône, France
• LCM (50 Meters)
• Live Results

The French junior swimming championships have been running alongside the Mare Nostrum Tour in Canet, and there have been some top swims and three new French Junior Records set over the first four days of competition.

For the first time, the meet has no age restrictions on the ‘A’ final, meaning the top eight times from prelims were all in the fastest heat regardless of age. There are also U14, U15, and U16 finals in each event.

The first French junior record came on Tuesday in the men’s 50 backstroke. Nathan Muratory, who is committed to the University of Michigan for the class of 2026, swam 25.51 in the prelims, taking four hundredths off Yohan Airaud‘s 25.55 from July of 2022. This swim took a little less than a tenth off his previous best of 25.60 from March.

In the final, Muratory dropped even more time, touching in 25.22 to become the U18 Champion by about six tenths over 2nd place finisher Chrissander Cerda‘s 25.79.

Muratory also picked up another U18 record on Thursday, swimming 53.45 in the men’s 100 backstroke. This shattered the former record time of 54.17, which was set by Mewen Tomac back in 2019. It was also nearly a second faster than his previous best of 54.31, also from March.

This is the fastest time in the country this season, and makes him the 6th French fastest performer of all time in the event. It will also move him up to 15th in the world this year.

Updated Top 10 French Swimmers All-Time

1. Yohann Nodye-Brouard — 51.92 (2025)
2. Camille Lacourt — 52.11 (2010)
3. Jeremy Stravius — 52.76 (2011)
4. Mewen Tomac — 52.86 (2021)
5. Benjamin Stasiulis — 53.27 (2009)
6. Nathan Muratory — 53.45 (2026)
7. Pierre Roger — 53.55 (2009)
8. Mathys Chouchaoui — 53.70 (2025)
9. Alex Desangles — 54.09 (2025)
10. Clement Secchi — 54.20 (2023)

Both of Muratory’s swims will also put him in consideration for the 2026 European Swimming Championships roster, coming in under the qualifying times of 24.89 and 53.95 respectively.

The other French Junior Record came from 16-year-old Sauveur Cristofini. He won the men’s 200 freestyle final in 1:46.44. This was about half-a-second faster than Yannick Angel’s 2009 U17 record of 1:47.02.

Cristofini dropped more than a second from the 1:47.56 he set at the Giant Open in March. He also put himself in potential qualifying position for the 2026 European Championships, coming in four tenths faster than the qualifying time of 1:46.88.

Monday Winners:

• Men’s 800 Freestyle: Remi Rahmouni — 7:54.36
• Women’s 50 Backstroke: Jeanne Lechevalier — 27.85
• Men’s 100 Butterfly: Chrissander Cerda — 53.82
• Women’s 400 IM: Tess Tinker — 4:48.70
• Men’s 100 Breaststroke: Marius Bayle — 1:01.98
• Women’s 200 Freestyle: Maeline Bessard — 2:00.62

Tuesday Winners:

• Women’s 800 Freestyle: Carla Serra — 8:41.41
• Men’s 50 Backstroke: Nathan Muratory — 25.22 MPF 18
• Women’s 100 Butterfly: Andreanne Bourseul — 1:00.90
• Men’s 400 IM: Luka Pavlovic — 4:27.26
• Women’s 100 Breaststroke: Chloe Lombardo — 1:10.92
• Men’s 200 Freestyle: Sauveur Cristofini — 1:46.44 MPF 17

Wednesday Winners:

• Men’s 1500 Freestyle: Adrien Espriet — 15:22.04
• Women’s 50 Freestyle: Eline Adopo — 25.91
• Men’s 200 Breaststroke: Alexandre Pause — 2:18.82
• Women’s 200 IM: Tess Tinker — 2:16.82
• Men’s 50 Butterfly: Chrissander Cerda — 23.92
• Women’s 100 Backstroke: Jeanne Lechevalier — 1:00.53

Thursday Winners:

• Women’s 1500 Freestyle: Carla Serra — 16:33.82
• Men’s 50 Freestyle: Paul Mervant-Dufy — 22.80
• Women’s 200 Breaststroke: Chloe Lombardo — 2:33.76
• Men’s 200 IM: Alexandre Ferrere — 2:04.36
• Women’s 50 Butterfly: Andreanne Bourseul — 26.51
• Men’s 100 Backstroke: Nathan Muratory — 53.45 MPF 18