Agnel Interview: “It’s Rather Unacceptable”

In an interview with RMC Sport, below (in French), Yannick Agnel discussed the controversy over his third-place finish with a calm professionalism that masked his disappointment:


Natation – Agnel : “C’est assez inadmissible” by rmcsport

Unofficial translation by Anne Lepesant:

“I thought I’d seen everything in my career but that, …it’s terrible. It’s something else I can tell my kids and my grandkids. I don’t know. I’m second, apparently, it’s somewhat undeniable, but I stood on the third step of the podium. It’s rather unacceptable I think. I hope we’ll shine the light on this business.

“It seemed to me that in fact I’d touched second, but with the goggles and the fog and everything, I couldn’t be absolutely sure. Everyone, absolutely everyone, who had been on the finish line told me I had touched second by a large margin. It seems to me a rather honest response.

“It’s rather unacceptable in an Olympic selection meet to have the same problem twice. That is, this morning I finish first and they tell me I’m second in my heat, with a half-second difference between the pad and the real time. And then tonight when it creates a problem for an Olympic selection. It shouldn’t be the case. I don’t know who/what is at fault; surely it has something to do with the installation.

“I take it with a certain measure of calm; it’s not life and death. I’m in a good position. I think about Jordan [Pothain], who is living the same thing as me more or less, so it’s a bit complicated. But no matter what, I support the fact that I was second and that maybe there will still be a chance to be chosen for the Olympics.”

 

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Paul
7 years ago

If you see the video of the race it is quite clear that he touches in second; they even showed a slow motion underwater replay after the race was over showing quite clearly that Angel came second and that there was an problem with the touch pad. Initially it showed that he had come third which was the result from the touch pad. Even the commentators said that he had come second and the result which showed up was wrong.
So the issue is a faulty touch pad and a bunch of officials not owning up and admitting that they have made a mistake.

Here is the video; http://www.beinsports.com/france/natation/video/france-200m-m-stravius-et-agnel-loupent-les-m/228103

C'est La Vie
Reply to  Paul
7 years ago

This is NO mistake. This is corruption, pure and simple!

mcgillrocks
Reply to  C'est La Vie
7 years ago

I don’t think the officials set out to make his touchpad malfunction so he would finish outside of Olympic qualifying. They would have had to know that there would be a close race for 1st/2nd/3rd — if Agnel won went 1:45 low but still finished “2nd” it would be ridiculous.

Furthermore, “cui bono?” Why would the French National Federation benefit from having arguably their greatest swimmer ever and their best hope for strong relays and individual gold (well at least theoretically– if he ends up making the team he’s done nothing to suggest he would actually be anywhere near his TWR form.) Agnel is a star, and stars make money, and cutting him from the team does not seem… Read more »

Crawler
Reply to  Paul
7 years ago

Former French swimming star Amaury Leveaux wrote a very entertaining book about his life as an elite swimmer. His opinion of the French Federation officials is far from being positive. I dont know if they are corrupt but they are inept.

Gina
7 years ago

The elephant in the room is that he is no way in top shape physically or mentally. I don’t generally think that one can actually give or take advice in a situation like this , but it is very close to Thorpie’s situation in 2004 but Ian was the better athlete able to still swim top times whilst under major personal conflict.

luigi
Reply to  Gina
7 years ago

I made that mental association myself and I am wondering if the other guy will step back and give him his spot.

Joel Lin
7 years ago

I’m with Berkoff…there seems to be more to this. Nobody is so irrational to claim Agnel was not second unless there is something else driving that. Also, isn’t there some recourse owed to him for the fact the time pad was faulty? Give him a time trial shot? I watched the video and it isn’t like he snorkels down to the pool bottom to touch the wall. It’s clearly a faulty time pad.

BDL SWIM
7 years ago

This is so laughable. I would be livid if I were Agnel.

The beauty of swimming is that it’s an objective sport. Your success and failure simply depends on the amount of time it takes to swim a certain distance. There is no human judgment or subjectivity, just the clock. Once the “timing” aspect becomes unreliable, the whole sport falls apart. The lack of professionalism baffles my mind… are these the French Olympic Trials, or my 7-year-old nephew’s summer country club meet?

David Berkoff
7 years ago

Bobo. Enlighten us. Is this corruption or simply ineptitude? Is this revenge for training in the US? This fiasco is wholly unacceptable in swimming. i can only imagine how gut shot Agnel must feel.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  David Berkoff
7 years ago

Backing that up . I feel the same …….so obvious

Crawler
7 years ago

I think he is talking about the relay in which France is prequalified.

Swimmer A
7 years ago

Soooo is he thinkin they will let people on the team who didn’t make the cut times??

PVSFree
Reply to  Swimmer A
7 years ago

If the meet keeps up like it has, I feel they might. I’m not sure if anyone has achieved a cut time, but I’m not following the meet too closely

Dunc1952
7 years ago

Can we get some video of both prelims and finals?

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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