2016 FRENCH OPEN – VICHY
- Vichy, France
- Saturday July 2nd-Sunday July 3rd
- Prelims – 10 am local (4am EST)
- Finals – 6:50 pm local (12:50 pm EST)
- Start Lists and Results
Japan’s Kosuke Hagino won a share of three event titles – including a narrow win over France’s Jeremy Stravius in the 200 free – on the second and final day of the 2016 French Open.
Hagino and Stravius went head-to-head in one of the night’s most exciting finishes, with Hagino nipping Stravius 1:47.20 to 1:47.40. That’s not a season-best for either man (Hagino sits #5 worldwide at 1:45.50 and Stravius #12 in 1:46.18) but still a pair of very solid swims with just over a month to go until the Rio Olympics.
The versatile Hagino was the day’s big winner, taking three event titles on Sunday to add to his 400 IM title from Saturday.
Hagino was 1:57.43 to win the 200 IM, about two and a half seconds off his word-leading time from April. He also took the 200 back in 1:59.14. In the latter race, he edged Poland’s tough Radoslaw Kawecki (1:59.91) by almost a full second.
The biggest assault on the world rankings once again came in a 50-meter stroke event. Where Andrii Govorov of the Ukraine hit a world-leading 50 fly Saturday, it was France’s Camille Lacourt who matched his 4th-ranked time in the world in the 50 backstroke Sunday. Lacourt was 24.67 to win the event by seven tenths.
Both the 50 fly and 50 back were likely not major priorities for either swimmer during their nations’ Olympic selection periods, given they are not events contested at the Olympics. But with Rio berths already in hand, both men have started to hone in their speed in the training period leading up to Rio.
2015-2016 LCM Men 50 BACK
PLUMMER
24.58
| 2 | Mitchell LARKIN | AUS | 24.62 | 10/29 |
| 3 | Jiayu XU | CHN | 24.65 | 09/30 |
| 4 | Camille LACOURT | FRA | 24.67 | 02/05 |
| 5 | Grigory TARASEVICH | RUS | 24.70 | 04/16 |
Govorov, for his part, won the 50 free on day 2, going 21.93 to beat defending world and Olympic champion Florent Manaudou. Manaudou was just 22.11.
There were a number of repeat winners on Sunday, led by Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who notched her third win of the weekend. After taking the 200 IM and 200 back on Saturday, Hosszu topped the 400 IM Sunday in 4:35.19.
British world record-holding breaststroker Adam Peaty cruised to a 59.41 to win the men’s 100 breast after taking the 50 breast a day ago. He was the only swimmer under 1:01.
His fellow British swimmer Jazz Carlin completed a distance sweep, winning the 400 free in 4:05.37. She won the 800 yesterday. And Georgia Davies added a 100 back win (1:00.18) to her 50 back win from day 1.
Japan’s Runa Imai, just 15 years old, added a 2:26.09 win in the 200 breast to a 100 breast title on day 1. And her countrywoman Natsumi Hoshi went 2:07.20 to crush the 200 fly field. Hoshi won the 100 fly on Saturday.
Meanwhile Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands was only four tenths off her season-best in the 100 free, going 53.54 to sweep the sprint freestyles in Vichy. She sits #5 worldwide with her 53.14 from last month.
Other event winners from day 2:
- Poland’s Mateusz Sawrymowicz was 15:11.82 to win the men’s 1500 free.
- France’s Melanie Henique took the 50 fly for women in 26.22.
- The 50 breast for women went to Fanny Lecluyse of Belgium in 32.15.
- France’s Mehdy Metella went 52.61 to win the men’s 100 fly.
Having WON 200 free in 1:47.20 and Stravius next (1:47.40). They didn’t tie and Zhagino’s winning tine/or in 200 back was 1;59.14 NOT .41.
Anyway it’s all academic as come Rio Hagino’s gonna get his butt kicked in anything he enters! I mean c’mon, now, a tourpeat riding on Phelps in the 200 IM and the GOAT’s gonna get beat by thus guy or Cseh? This ain’t London.
Phelps has only swam faster than Cseh has in the 200 fly this year once in textile, that being his 2007 1:52.07, and I highly doubt Phelps in 2007 shape, which was the best of his career. Cseh is also targeting the Olympics for his peak, as any swimmer in the world is, meaning unless there is a disaster he will probably swim faster than he did at euros. He is experienced and knows how to peak, and I highly doubt he was heavily rested or on a full taper at the euros. Cseh will give Phelps a hard time, and maybe Le Clos has been humbled by last year and will train hard to get on top. Phelps will… Read more »