Four-time world champion Maxime Grousset has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming French Elite Championships after suffering a foot fracture.
The 27-year-old said on Instagram that he fractured the base of his second metatarsal on his left foot while doing a “training jump.”
According to L’Equipe, Grousset didn’t initially understand the severity of the injury before an MRI revealed the fracture.
View this post on Instagram
Translated From French:
It is with great disappointment that I announce my withdrawal from the upcoming French Championships in Saint-Étienne.
During a training jump, I fractured the base of the second metatarsal in my left foot. I will need to rest and undergo the necessary treatment. I
am very disappointed, but all my energy is now focused on my recovery.
The 2026 French Elite Swimming Championships, scheduled for June 26-30, will serve as France’s qualifying meet for the 2026 European Aquatics Championships, which will be contested on home soil in Paris.
Grousset’s withdrawal from the selection meet certainly puts his attendance at the European Championships in doubt, though he’ll have a chance to still be named to the team if he’s healthy and if there are open spots on the French roster in his best events.
His recovery time will be approximately four weeks, according to L’Equipe.
Grousset is the reigning world champion in the men’s 50 and 100 butterfly, having won double gold at the 2025 World Championships with a new French Record in the former (22.48) and a new European Record in the latter (49.62). He also won silver on the French men’s 4×100 medley relay in Singapore, having produced a blistering 49.27 fly split, and also made the final of the 100 free, placing 7th.
Since then, Grousset continued his run of good form, winning six medals at the 2025 European Short Course Championships last December, including claiming individual golds in the 100 free and 100 fly, silver in the 50 free and 100 IM, and bronze in the 50 fly.
During the 2025-26 long course season, Grousset ranks 4th in the world in the 50 fly (22.78), 6th in the 50 free (21.51) and 100 fly (50.95), and 19th in the 100 free (48.02). His swim in the 50 free, done in December, marked a new personal best.
In Grousset’s absence, Nikita Baez likely takes over as the frontrunner in the men’s 50 free and 50 fly at the French Elite Championships, while Nans Mazellier is the next-fastest man from last year in the 100 free and Clement Secchi headlines the 100 fly after placing 13th at the 2025 World Championships.
Man, Dressel’s WRs (including SCY) really do keep getting lucky breaks, don’t they
Oh man that’s rough 🙁 hope he recovers well and we see him at Euros!
🙄
Hope he gets healthy. Want to see him at Euros.
Same. I’m worried about him and Luca. Thry had great summers last year and I’d hate to see injuries derailing their respective meets