France Names 32 Swimmers to 2023 World Championships Team

The French Swimming Federation has announced the names of the 19 men and 13 women who will represent the Tricolor at the 20th edition of the World Aquatics Championships, which will be held in Fukuoka, Japan, from July 14 to 30, 2023.

Among the 32 athletes are 15 swimmers who have not yet made a French senior team for international LCM competition. National Teams Director Jacco Verhaeren told SwimSwam, “I think it’s always great to have a good mix of experience and newcomers – especially for us, one year out of qualifying for the Olympics in Paris. I think it is great that the younger athletes can watch and learn from the older, more experienced athletes.”

The men’s qualifiers have an average age of 24, ranging from 32-year-old Olympic gold medalist Florent Manaudou to 18-year-old newcomer Pacôme Bricout. They have qualified collectively 12 times for French teams at the Olympics and 8 times for World Championships. On the women’s side, Melanie Henique (30) and Mary-Ambre Moluh (17) are the bookends, while the entire group averages about 25 years of age. They have made 13 collective French teams for the Olympic Games and 18 for LC World Championships.

Returning French medalists from the 2022 World Championships include Léon Marchand (gold 200 IM, gold 400 IM, silver 200 fly), Maxime Grousset (silver 100 free, bronze 50 free), Henique (silver), Marie Wattel (silver 100 fly), and Analia Pigrée (bronze 50 back).

Following is the list of men and women selected for Fukuoka

Men’s Qualifiers

Women’s Qualifiers