Jeremie Delbois Breaks Through in 100 Breast in Paris, Rises to #3 Frenchman All-Time

2025 FRENCH ELITE SC CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, October 23 to Sunday, October 26, 2025
• Alice Milliat Aquatic Center, Taverny (Val Parisis), France
• SCM (25m)
• Meet Central
• Entries
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2

Written By: Théo Degeilh

Here we go again for a stacked Day 3, in the wake of a Saturday marked by Mewen Tomac’s double, Béryl Gastaldello’s second title, Clément Secchi’s show, and the sparkle of the Jehl–Urbaniak–Riley trio in the 200 freestyle.

Friday is a day expected to swing between the expected dominance of team leaders Grousset, Gastaldello, and Anastasia Kirpichnikova, and the emergence of new faces in the French ranks who could bloom by 2028.

First comes the fast heat of the women’s 800 freestyle: Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, the Russian-born, naturalized French swimmer and reigning European short course champion, is a strong favorite to secure a second title after the 1500. 

Also on deck, Maxime Grousset, on fire since the start of the week, takes on the 50 butterfly after topping the heats in 22.35. 

In the women’s 100 backstroke, spotlight on France’s sprint queen Béryl Gastaldello, an Olympic finalist in the event, with a close eye on promising Jeanne Lechevalier (15). 

The men’s 200 freestyle promises a finely poised showdown where every detail will count. 

On the men’s side we’ll also watch the 100 breast and 400 IM; on the women’s side, the 200 butterfly and then the 50 freestyle to close at speed. Curtain up.

Reminder: this meet is the French qualification event for the European Short Course Swimming Championships that will run from December 2-7 in Lublin, Poland.

Women’s 800 Freestyle – Timed Final

• World Record: 7:57.42, Katie Ledecky (USA) — 2022
• World Junior Record: 7:59.44, Wang Jianjiahe (CHN) — 2018
• French Record: 8:01.06, Camille Muffat — 2012
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 8:23.10

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (Montpellier Métropole Natation) — 8:20.45
2. Laura Gourgeon (Pays d’Aix Natation / CE Paca–Martigues) — 8:32.18
3. Inès Delacroix (CN Brest) — 8:32.48
4. Carla Serra (Canet 66 Natation) — 8:35.10
5. Lou-Ann Gaudaire (CN Brest) — 8:40.13
6. Jamila Boulakbech (Martigues Natation – TUN) — 8:40.47
7. Valentine Leclercq (Grenoble ALP’38) — 8:42.09
8. Clémence Coccodrano (Lille Métropole Natation) — 8:47.91

The 1500 podium was a repeat of the 800 earlier in the meet, with the top five finishers coming in the same order in this 1500. It was no surprise that Anastasiia Kirpichnikova dominated in 8:20.45. It’s well off her personal best (8:04.65, 2021) but under the Lublin qualifying mark (8:23.10), and she’ll be the only French qualifier in this event.

 Behind her, Laura Gourgeon kept her fine week going with second in 8:32.18, a personal best. 

Inès Delacroix (8:32.48) closed hard to take third, the CN Brest swimmer and French open-water international edging Carla Serra over the final lengths. A dense field, but Kirpichnikova was untouchable from wire to wire. 

A perfect way to launch this third finals session.

Kirpichnikova post-race, “It was tougher than the 1500 free. I tried to go out and hold on without chasing a specific time. I’m going back to training because I want to win a medal at the European Championships in Lublin.”

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Final

• World Record: 55.28, Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) — 2021
• World Junior Record: 56.66, Simone Cerasuolo (ITA) — 2021
• French Record: 56.78, Giacomo Perez Dortona — 2014
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 57.49

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Jérémie Delbois (Olympic Nice Natation) — 57.13 (26.95 / 30.18)
2. Antoine Viquerat (Racing Club de France) — 57.51
3. Carl Aitkaci (CS Clichy 92 / INSEP) — 57.66
4. Pierre Goudeneche (Girondins Bordeaux) — 59.16
5. Antoine Marc (Mulhouse ON) — 59.50
6. Samy Boutouil (Grenoble ALP’38 — MAR) — 59.55
7. Marius Bayle (ASM Chamalières Natation) — 1:00.02
8. Tom Remy (Charleville-Mézières Natation) — DSQ

A final with the feel of last year’s long-course Nationals and a historic night for French breaststroke: for the first time ever, the French crowd saw a full podium under 58 seconds (57.13 / 57.51 / 57.66). 

Jérémie Delbois won in 57.13, splitting 26.95 out and 30.18 home. That smashed his PB (previously 58.42), rising to No. 3 on the all-time French performers list. It also earned his first individual selection with France after he swam the breaststroke leg of the 4×100 medley heats at the World Championships this year, where the team won silver. His time ranks 8th in the world this season. 

Behind him, 200 breast national champion Antoine Viquerat posted a strong 57.51 but missed the Lublin standard (57.49) by two hundredths (his PB is 56.98). 

Carl Aitkaci completed the podium in 57.66. A deep race, and the bar keeps dropping.

Delbois post-race, “I was capable of going 57, but not by so few hundredths, so I’m really happy to make the cut. When I’m relaxed, that’s when I generally swim fast”

“Once I got a taste of the French team, I wanted to stay there. And this is my first individual qualification, which makes it even better. Now I have to aim higher: international finals and medals. I learned a lot this summer about managing races and big moments.”

Women’s 100 Backstroke – Final

• World Record: 54.02, Regan Smith (USA) — 2024
• World Junior Record: 55.75, Bella Sims (USA) — 2023
• French Record: 56.07, Béryl Gastaldello — 2024
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 57.11

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Béryl Gastaldello (Montpellier Métropole Natation / INSEP) — 57.28
2. Jeanne Lechevalier (Amiens Métropole Natation / Pôle Amiens) — 58.44
3. Bertille Cousson (CN Marseille) — 59.26
4. Anaïs Podevin (ES Massy Natation) — 1:00.08
5. Lou-Anne Guiton (Stade Béthune Pélican Club / INSEP) — 1:00.16
6. Lucine Allart (Amiens Métropole Natation) — 1:00.44
7. Manon Domingeon (Grenoble ALP’38) — 1:00.92
8. Louna Candelon (Canet 66 Natation) — 1:00.92

Fourteen years separate Béryl Gastaldello (1995) from her runner-up Jeanne Lechevalier (2009). Experience carried the day, with a clear win for the elder Gastaldello in 57.28. Neither Gastaldello, whose personal best is also the French record at 56.07, nor Lechevalier met the federation qualifying standard of 57.11, though Gastaldello is already on the team and so will have the option to swim the race in Lublin.

The bright spot came from Bertille Cousson, third in 59.26, who set a personal best to reach the podium. 

Men’s 400 Individual Medley – Final

• World Record: 3:54.81, Daiya Seto (JPN) — 2019
• World Junior Record: 3:56.47, Ilia Borodin (RSF) — 2020
• French Record: 3:58.30, Léon Marchand — 2022
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 4:08.06

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Emilien Mattenet (Charleville-Mézières Natation) — 4:08.66
2. Valentin Trevillot (ASPTT Montpellier) — 4:09.32
3. Mohamed-Yassine Ben Abbes (Grenoble ALP’38 — TUN) — 4:12.85
4. Raphaël Blamart (Charleville-Mézières Natation) — 4:14.90
5. Jonah Werhann (Charleville-Mézières Natation) — 4:15.31
6. Jules Duthu (Alliance Dijon Natation) — 4:18.60
7. Evan Claimand (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) — 4:19.31
8. Lucas Barry (ASM Chamalières Natation) — 4:20.17

It was a terrific duel between Emilien Mattenet and Valentin Trevillot in a 400 IM where Léon Marchand’s shadow inevitably hung over the pool. 

After Mohamed-Yassine Ben Abbes led through 200 m, Trevillot moved in front at 300 m off a 1:09.85 breaststroke split. 

The reigning short-course national champion Mattenet then flipped the script with a blazing final 50 in 26.90, snatching it in 4:08.66 to 4:09.32. 

Despite the quality of the battle, no qualifying standard for Lublin was met (4:08.06 required). 

On French ranking terms, Raphaël Blamart completes the national podium in 4:14.90.

Women’s 200 Breaststroke – Final

• World Record: 2:12.50, Kate Douglass (USA) — 2023
• World Junior Record: 2:14.70, Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS) — 2021
• French Record: 2:20.64, Charlotte Bonnet — 2023
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 2:20.82

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Louann Soulard (CN Brest) — 2:25.98
2. Camille Tissandie (Canet 66 Natation) — 2:26.63
3. Giulia Rossi-Bene (Canet 66 Natation) — 2:26.78
4. Adèle Blanchetière (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) — 2:29.57
5. Zia Dupont (Angers Natation) — 2:33.38
6. Laure Barreau (Villejuif Natation) — 2:33.55
7. Camille Mallet (ASPTT Montpellier) — 2:34.42
8. Chloé Tardy (Stade Olympique Chambéry) — 2:35.05

The triple wasn’t to be for Giulia Rossi-Bene: after winning the 50 and 100 breast, the newly minted breaststroker led through 150 m before fading over the final 50. 

Louann Soulard claimed her first national title in 2:25.98, smashing her personal best (previous 2:28.33) and bringing a title back to CN Brest. 

Camille Tissandie (2:26.63) edged Rossi-Bene (2:26.78) for silver, all three medalists set personal bests. 

It was a refreshing podium, though still well outside the Lublin qualifying mark (2:20.82).

Men’s 50 Butterfly – Final

• World Record: 21.32, Noè Ponti (SUI) — 2023
• World Junior Record: 22.28, Ilya Kharun (CAN) — 2022
• French Record: 22.06, Maxime Grousset — 2023
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 22.41

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Maxime Grousset (CS Clichy 92 / INSEP) — 22.02 NR
2. Youssef Ramadan (Égypte) — 22.36
3. Clément Secchi (CN Marseille) — 22.39
4. Stanislas Huille (Stade de Vanves) — 22.66
5. Nikita Baez (Lyon Natation Métropole) — 23.06
6. Alexandre d’Agata (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) — 23.14
7. Alexandre Philipps (Lyon Natation Métropole) — 23.17
8. Louis Picoche (Nantes Natation) — 23.22

Thunder and sparks in the 50 butterfly: Maxime Grousset, yet again, blasted a 22.02, a shattered French record, in a wire-to-wire final. 

You can see the work on his underwater phases and, above all, the direct answer to his international rivals Ilya Kharun, Josh Liendo, and Noé Ponti, all sub-22 in Toronto. 

The New Caledonian climbs to No. 4 in the world this season and looks like one of the favorites for Lublin.

Behind him, the ultra-fluid NCAA champion Youssef Ramadan took second in 22.36, while Clément Secchi, the former University of Missouri swimmer, crashed the party in 22.39, a personal best (down from 22.78) and inside the Euro standard. Stanislas Huille, already qualified in the 100 fly, clocked 22.66 to lock the third French spot. 

A goosebump-worthy 50 fly that confirms Grousset is now a threat everywhere, long course and short course alike.

Grousset post-race, “it’s my best time. You can’t be disappointed with that, but of course when you’re at 22.02 it makes you want to go 21.”

“I have a bit of trouble being really explosive on the first 25; I go out on 100-meter bases, take five strokes, and I do the same on my 100, so I can’t accelerate much more than that. That’s what I’m missing. The first 25 wasn’t great, but I think I did the fastest second 25 I’ve ever done. I didn’t feel very sharp on the turn, even though it’s one of my strengths now. I pushed the underwater to almost 15 meters, I think, I didn’t even do it on purpose. I was still about 40–50 cm under the surface, so I told myself not to come up then because I’d pop up straight and it would completely slow me down. I tried it and, in the end, it’s a French record.”

“There will be some great battles this winter. It’s getting better and better this week; I’m showing that again. It’s my best time, so if I do it again tomorrow, that’s dangerous…”

Women’s 200 Butterfly – Final

• World Record: 1:59.32, Summer McIntosh (CAN) — 2023
• World Junior Record: 1:59.32, Summer McIntosh (CAN) — 2023
• French Record: 2:03.22, Aurore Mongel — 2009
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 2:07.50

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Adélaïde Meuter (Heritage 2024 CAO MGP) — 2:10.04
2. Lili-Rose Berthelot (ASM Chamalières Natation) — 2:10.11
3. Soizic Gelfmann (SC Thionville) — 2:12.79
4. Clara Mougenot (ES Massy Natation) — 2:13.58
5. Léa Musser (Étoiles 92) — 2:13.62
6. Gaia Rasmussen (SUI) — 2:14.10
7. Ella Tinker (Stade Olympique Chambéry) — 2:14.86
8. Lucie Christophe (SC Thionville) — 2:18.24

Tight finish in the 200 butterfly: Adélaïde Meuter claimed her first national title in 2:10.04, getting the touch ahead of Lili-Rose Berthelot (2:10.11) after a perfectly managed final 50. Soizic Gelfmann took bronze in 2:12.79. 

Despite a competitive race, the Lublin qualifying standard (2:07.50) remained out of reach.

Men’s 200 Freestyle – Final

• World Record: 1:38.61, Luke Hobson (USA) — 2023
• World Junior Record: 1:40.65, Matthew Sates (RSA) — 2021
• French Record: 1:39.70, Yannick Agnel — 2012
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 1:43.17

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Roman Fuchs (Amiens Métropole Natation) — 1:42.08
2. Mewen Tomac (EN Caen) — 1:43.51
3. Sauveur Cristofini (G.F.C Ajaccio) — 1:43.61
4. Néo Dutriaux (Olympic Nice Natation) — 1:43.85
5. Corentin Pouillart (Amiens Métropole Natation) — 1:44.19
6. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (Dauphins d’Annecy) — 1:45.06
7. Yann Le Goff (C Paul-Bert Rennes) — 1:45.42
8. Evan Galle-Michon (Grenoble ALP’38) — 1:46.35

A sumptuous final was capped by Roman Fuchs, who kept his crown in 1:42.08, a personal best, splitting 49.25 at halfway and 52.83 on the way back. He books his Lublin ticket and posts the 10th-fastest French performance ever. 

Behind him, backstroke king of these championships Mewen Tomac took silver in 1:43.51, also a PB. 

The revelation of the meet, Sauveur Cristofini, claimed bronze in 1:43.61 after a smartly paced race and set a French 16 and 17-year-old record, erasing the mark of Yannick Agnel, the London Olympic champion in the 200 free. 

Néo Dutriaux (born 2007) finished fourth in 1:43.85, a PB and a strong marker for the future.

Fuchs post-race, “It’s good news, and it’s a race that means a lot to me. It’s my third straight French title, which makes me happy, even though many of the guys who were there before have since retired”

“I was targeting Maxime’s time of 1:41.5, but that’s okay, it will come at Euros. I think I may be going out a bit too fast. I’m not fluid enough in what I’m doing yet, so I need to learn to build into it. That’s what I’m missing compared with my direct rivals in Europe and the world. We test things, we make mistakes, and we progress.”

Women’s 50 Freestyle – Final

• • World Record: 22.83, Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 2025
  • World Junior Record: 23.66, Eva Okaro (GBR) — 2023
  • French Record: 23.61, Mélanie Henique — 2020
  • French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 24.19

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Béryl Gastaldello (Montpellier Métropole Natation / INSEP) — 23.94
2. Analia Pigrée (Canet 66 Natation) — 24.28
3. (TIE) Mélanie Henique (CN Marseille) & Anastasia Urbaniak (Grenoble ALP’38) — 24.52
5. Albane Cachot (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) — 24.67
6. Anna Santamans (Pays d’Aix Natation) — 24.80
7. Sofia Kolb (Lyon Natation Métropole) — 24.90
8. Eloise Riley (Canet 66 Natation) — 24.92

The curtain falls on Day 3 with a third title for Béryl Gastaldello. The Montpellier swimmer wins in 23.94, under the Lublin qualifying mark (24.19), confirming her status as the queen of French sprinting after the 100 free and the 50 fly. 

Behind her, Analia Pigrée takes silver in 24.28, edging Mélanie Henique at the touch in 24.52, with Anastasia Urbaniak matching that same 24.52. 

A dense final (places two through six within four-tenths), but Gastaldello made the difference with raw speed and her second underwater. 

She was also the only French swimmer to hit the qualifying standard tonight.

Gastaldello post-race, “It felt good to swim under 24 seconds. I’m only three tenths off my best, and I was disappointed not to hit the qualifying time in the 100 back at the start of the session today, so I had to reset mentally for the 50.

“I’m proud of myself because even though my first 25 meters isn’t very good at the moment at this meet, I have a strong second half of the race. I’m satisfied. There’s not yet a lot of fluidity in my stroke and I’m not really enjoying the 100 here. With work  especially on the legs, it will come back.”