Agnel Scratches 200 Free, Swims Off Events in Mullhouse Regional Meet

Championnat Régional d’été

French superstar Yannick Agnel scratched out of the 200 free and swam preliminary races of 3 off-events in prelims at a regional meet on Saturday in Mulhouse, France.

Swimming at the Championnat Régional d’été (Regional Summer Championships), Agnel’s three results were:

  • 50 free – 24.32
  • 100 breast – 1:08.71
  • 100 fly – 57.46

Agnel was far above the level of competition for the meet. That’s the first 100 breaststroke in long course we could find a record of in his career, and his best time in the 50 free is a 22.87 (from 2015) and in the 100 fly is a 55.79 (from 2014).

His coach said that he swam 6000 meters the morning before the meet, and that this meet was more of a break in routine for him than a full-force competition.

The 24-year old was originally qualified only to swim on the French 800 free relay at the 2016 Olympics after a disastrous Olympic Trials meet. That included placing 3rd on a controversial finish in the 200 free, an event in which he’s the defending Olympic gold medalist and the 2013 World Champion. Agnel originally said he would decline an opportunity to swim the event in Rio even if the roster was maneuvered to open up a spot for him, but later changed his mind after Jordan Pothain (the 2nd qualifier) scratched to focus on his 400 free.

Agnel didn’t swim the race individually at the European Championships and split a 1:46.25 (on a rolling start) as part of a 5th-place French 800 free relay in his only swim of the meet.

 

 

 

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bobo gigi
7 years ago

He swam 1.50 in the 200 free at French Open in Vichy early July.
His coach said that Agnel was very tired after a big training period and that he wasn’t worried.
But I’m worried.
Apart from a miracle I don’t see what can transform him in one month into a 1.44 high/1.45 low swimmer.
Recap of his season so far
He touched clearly second at last French nationals but the officials said he finished third. It was a scandal.
At that time I said he should swim for the new refugee olympic team created by IOC.
It was a joke but I recognize that it was a bad joke, a joke in… Read more »

Dr.x
7 years ago

After reading all the comments..I soo want him to medal in the 200 free..that would be hilarious!! ????????

bobo gigi
Reply to  Dr.x
7 years ago

Why it would be hilarious?

Because some people try to draw conclusions from a training meet with Agnel swimming off events? 😆

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Imagine if Adrian had swum 6.50 in the 400 IM at a local meet one month ago, the state of urgency would have been immediately declared by most of hardcore US fans!
“Adrian was sick?”
“Definitely not a good sign one month before trials!”
“Adrian will not make the team this year!”

By the way I’m optimistic for the 400 IM in 6.50. I wonder if he would finish the race. 😆

Molotov
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

I fully agree with you, Bobo 🙂

bobo gigi
7 years ago

He would have finished second of the women’s 100 breast at last French national championships with that time.
However he would have been women’s French champion in the 50 free and the 100 fly.

More seriously his coach said he swam 6km in training this morning at 6 AM and that meet was just to break the routine.
His next meet, the last one before Rio and probably the penultimate of his career, will be in Vichy early July.

Swimfanatic
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Bobo there’s one problem with the statement you just said…. He’s a boy

G.I.N.A.
Reply to  Swimfanatic
7 years ago

What was he identifying as that day?

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  G.I.N.A.
7 years ago

Judging by what Bobo said the above, definitely woman.

Swimmerfromoverseas
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Even after a 6 km in training that is some realy bad times…

Molotov
Reply to  Swimmerfromoverseas
7 years ago

Do you guys even know Agnel? He’s/used to be a top notch 100-200-400m freestyler. Stroke events never were his forte, and although I agree a 24 point 50m free is a far cry from anything worth mentioning, this isn’t alarming in itself. We’ve seen more competitions were Agnel went very sub-par when untapered. Putting him in a stroke/distance that isn’t his only emphasizes it, so let the guy have his fun with the breaststroke and butterfly :). I expect him to be in good form come Rio. Not 2012-2013 good, but perhaps finaling in the 200.

swimdoc
Reply to  Molotov
7 years ago

I know he would lose to the Campbell sisters with that 50 free. You double his 50 free, and you have a slow 100 free time.

Molotov
Reply to  swimdoc
7 years ago

I wouldn’t say this matters right now. When you’re not a true blood sprinter and you’re gonna do a 50m when tired you’ll obviously have very little speed. I’ll be happy to give you your dislikes back when the Olympics come around.

Myth Destroyer
Reply to  Molotov
7 years ago

I don’t think Agnel was ever a 100-200-400 at world championship/olympics medal/final level. He was either a 100-200 or 200-400 at a time.

Alex
Reply to  Molotov
7 years ago

in his early years he specialized in 400 IM.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

It’s a good thing Agnel is French. He wouldn’t have won women’s 100 breast, 50 free and 100 fly with those times had he been American, Australian or Swede.

Irish Ringer
7 years ago

Damn those are some rough times. Hopefully he just hopped out of a tough workout and swam those races.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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