Jordan Pothain is a French middle distance freestyle specialist. He made his Olympic debut aged 22 at the Rio Olympics where he made the final in the 400 meter freestyle.
2015 World Championships
Pothain made his senior debut for France at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan as a member of the 4×200 meter freestyle relay. Pothain lead off for France in 1:48.34. He was followed by Gregory Mallet, Lorys Bourelly and Clement Mignon. The quartet only managed 11th place.
2016 Rio Olympic Games
At the French Olympic Trials, Pothain was part of a controversy in the 200 meter freestyle. According to the time pads, Pothain finished second behind Jeremy Stavius and ahead of the defending Olympic Champion, Yannick Agnel. But to the eye and video playback, Agnel touched second, ahead of Pothain but his initial touch didn’t register. Agnel’s appeal was denied, qualifying Pothain. After qualifying for the 400 freestyle days later, Pothain withdrew from the 200 meter freestyle to focus on his signature event at his first games. That allowed for Agnel to step up in his place in the 200.
In the 400 meter freestyle in Rio, Pothain reached the 400 meter freestyle final, finishing 8th in 3:49.07. He was also a member of the 4×200 meter freestyle relay that failed to make the final, where controversy struck again between Pothain and Agnel. After failing to make the semi final in the 200 meter freestyle and coming down with a sinus infection, Agnel pulled out of the relay hours before and was replaced last minute by distance specialist Damien Joly. After their 14th place finish, Pothain said he said “We were abandoned by Yannick. He let us down.”
