Florent Manaudou on Comeback: “I want to be Olympic champion” (Video)

2019 SETTE COLLI TROPHY

Video captured by Guisy Cisale. Reported by Loretta Race.

28-year-old Olympic champion Florent Manaudou produced a statement-making swim this morning at the 2019 Sette Colli Trophy in Rome, making his return to competitive racing in style.

While competing on day 1 of the 3-day meet, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist fired off a quick 21.73 to take the 2nd seed behind Brazil’s Bruno Fratus in the men’s 50m freestyle heats. The pair represented the only swimmers to dive under 22 seconds out of the morning, with the next fastest coming in the form of America’s Michael Andrew, who punched the wall at the same time as Italian Santo Condorelli in 22.06.

And just like that, Manaudou is now ranked 8th in the world for this season.

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running start to touch backstroke flags
5 years ago

“Sorry bruh, all we can assure you is Bronze or worse” ~ Chalmers / Dressel
“Yeah, Worse”…. Ervin

PACFAN

If Chalmers makes the final in Rio in the 50 free I’ll give you $10.

sven
Reply to  PACFAN
5 years ago

Yeah, he’s gotta make Australia’s Olympic team in it first, and somehow the guy that goes 47.3 in the 100 isn’t a lock in the 50.

marklewis
5 years ago

He’ll be a contender because he hasn’t lost his speed or his strength.

I think he’ll have to swim faster than he ever has to win the Olympics again. The 50 free is a loaded event these days. He’s big and strong, but so is everybody else.

It’s always thrilling to watch how fast the body can be propelled through water in a WC or Olympic 50 free final.

@jakeshell
5 years ago

His 50 in London was a clinic in details.

Samuel Huntington
5 years ago

10 weeks of training and goes 21.7..what a natural athlete and competitor

Bub
5 years ago

I’ll take “Things that won’t happen” for $1000, Alex

Samuel Huntington
Reply to  Bub
5 years ago

Any particular reason why?

Bub
Reply to  Samuel Huntington
5 years ago

Ok maybe I was a little harsh, but with the likes of Proud, Dressel, Fratus , etc on fire lately the prospect of a gold in Tokyo isn’t super likely. I’d love for him to prove me wrong but this is probably the deepest the 50 free has been since supersuits

Dudeman
Reply to  Bub
5 years ago

He has a best time of 21.1 so it isn’t impossible for him to win. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if 21.1-21.2 wins gold in tokyo. I hope they drop insane times faster than that but you never know

Samuel Huntington
Reply to  Bub
5 years ago

I would not doubt him. Any of those four has an equal shot in my opinion. We will get a better picture at Worlds.

bear drinks beer
Reply to  Bub
5 years ago

How many people predicted Ervin to take Olympic gold before Rio? And Manaudou himself wasn’t the favorite before London either. Anything can happen in a 50.

Lior Grubert
5 years ago

22.22 50 back SCM. One of the best races I have ever seen. He is an all around sprint beast!

Oof
5 years ago

That’s one dangerous man.

Poolboy
Reply to  Oof
5 years ago

Omg. And a whole year to get better!

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