Mewen Tomac Sets Up a Pair of European Title Defenses on Day 2 in Paris

2025 FRENCH ELITE SC CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, October 23 to Sunday, October 26, 2025
• Alice Milliat Aquatic Center, Taverny (Val Parisis), France
• SCM (25m)
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Written By: Théo Degeilh

After a blockbuster opening day with Grousset imperious, Kirpichnikova in control, a Tomac vs Ndoye Brouard duel, and the breakout of Sauveur Cristofini, we roll into a stacked Day 2.

Spotlight on the men’s 100 back final, where yesterday’s sparring partners Yohann Ndoye Brouard and Mewen Tomac square off again, perhaps inspired by Hubert Kós’s thunderbolt world record in the 200 back yesterday.

The breaststrokers debut in the men’s 200 breast, while Clément Secchi, already qualified in the 100 fly, steps up in the 200 fly.

Unmissable, Maxime Grousset returns in the 50 free, with pure sprinter Nikita Baez looming.

And over distance, the fast heat of the men’s 800 free promises a fine duel: Sauveur Cristofini, already qualified and in form, versus Olympic 1500 m finalists David Aubry and Damien Joly, both chasing their tickets to Lublin.

On the women’s side, Giulia Rossi-Bene will try to extend her reign from the 50 to the 100 breast, Camille Tissandie looks for confirmation in the 400 IM, and the 200 free brings together three athletes already qualified for Lublin, Anastasia Urbaniak, Marina Jehl, and Eloise Riley, for a full-scale test.

The likely women’s highlight is the 50 fly, an anticipated showdown between Béryl Gastaldello and Mélanie Hénique, both medalists at the highest level in short course.

Curtain up: the day promises to be fast, finely tuned, and decisive.

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.

Men’s 800 Freestyle – Timed Final

• World Record: 7:20.46, Daniel Wiffen (IRL) – 2023
• World Junior Record: 7:36.00, Sven Schwarz (GER) – 2019
• French Record: 7:29.17, Yannick Agnel – 2012
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 7:41.82

Top 8:

1. Emile Vincent (Stade Olympique Chambéry) — 7:41.52 (qualifying time)
2. Sauveur Cristofini (GFC Ajaccio / CE Paca–Martigues) — 7:42.47 (French U16 & U17 record)
3. David Aubry (Montpellier Métropole Natation) — 7:43.30
4. Damien Joly (Stade de Vanves) — 7:44.11
5. Rami Rahmouni (US Créteil Natation) — 7:45.06
6. Romain Raguenaud (SC Thionville / CE Paca–Martigues) — 7:47.93
7. Paul Beaugrand (Canet 66 Natation) — 7:48.30
8. Emile Mesmacque (Lille Métropole Natation) – 7:51.85

Huge upset: Emile Vincent seized victory in 7:41.52, under the qualifying mark (7:41.82) to earn his first call-up to the senior French team.

The race opened with Sauveur Cristofini setting the tone over the first 200 m, then David Aubry moving to the front at the 400 m in 3:50.59. Vincent bided his time and executed a negative split (3:51.91 out, 3:49.61 back) to smash his personal best (previous PB 7:47.53, more than six seconds).

He powered past everyone over the final 200 m to beat Cristofini (7:42.47, French 16 and 17-year-old record) and Aubry (7:43.30), with Damien Joly fourth (7:44.11).

The finish felt like a generational handover, Vincent and Cristofini up front with the long-time leaders just behind.

Vincent’s time ranks sixth in the world this season.

Emile Vincent said post-race: “I would have liked to go under 7:40. That was the target coming in, but I’ll take it. It’s really cool to get this qualification I hadn’t specifically prepared in short course.”

“I don’t start very fast; that’s not my strength. I knew that to win and qualify I had to build the race on my own bases. I ignored everyone else and told myself, ‘for the qualifying mark you could even be fourth,’ so I didn’t put pressure on the placing. When I saw I could be in front, I stayed relaxed.”

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Final

• World Record: 1:02.36, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 2013 / Alia Atkinson (JAM) – 2014 & 2016
• World Junior Record: 1:02.36, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 2013
• French Record: 1:05.03, Charlotte Bonnet – 2022
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 1:05.05

Top 8:

1. Giulia Rossi-Bene (Canet 66 Natation) — 1:07.20
2. Louann Soulard (CN Brest) — 1:07.80
3. Zia Dupont (Angers Natation) — 1:08.95
4. Adèle Blanchetière (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) — 1:09.33
5. Lilou Girardet (Dauphins de St-Louis) — 1:10.22
6. Camille Mallet (ASPTT Montpellier) — 1:10.60
7. Olivia Froger-Despres (Stade Olympique Chambéry) — 1:10.92
8. Azelis Ripoche (Angers Natation) — 1:12.00

Double for Giulia Rossi-Bene: after winning the 50 breast yesterday, she led from start to finish to take the 100 in 1:07.20, ahead of Louann Soulard (1:07.80) and Zia Dupont (1:08.95), confirming herself as France’s sprint-breaststroke reference. All three medalists set personal bests, but none met the Lublin qualifying standard of 1:05.05. A young, promising podium that follows the momentum shown on the 50.

Men’s 100 Backstroke – Final

• World Record: 48.33, Coleman Stewart (USA) – 2021
• World Junior Record: 48.76, Miron Lifintsev – 2024
• French Record: 49.57, Jérémy Stravius – 2013
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 50.60

Top 8:

1. Mewen Tomac (EN Caen) — 50.00
2. Yohann Ndoye Brouard (Dauphins d’Annecy / INSEP) — 50.83
3. Jules Andre (CN Marseille) — 51.25
4. Antoine Herlem (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) — 51.47
5. Mathys Chouchaoui (Olympic Nice Natation) — 51.60
6. Stanislas Huille (Stade de Vanves) — 51.67
7. Néo Dutriaux (Olympic Nice Natation) — 52.34
8. Simon Clusman (C. Paul-Bert Rennes) — 52.71

Big moment of the night. Twenty-four hours after his victorious 1:50.00 in the 200 back, Mewen Tomac clocks 50.00 in the 100 back. Clearly he has a thing for round numbers: 1:50.00 yesterday, 50.00 today… we’ll bring the calculator to Lublin.

After a big start and dominant underwaters, he split 23.89 at halfway with a six-tenth lead over Jules Andre, then came home in 26.11. He led wire to wire, completed the double, and secured a second qualification for Lublin ahead of Yohann Ndoye Brouard (50.83), who struggled to fully express himself throughout the race and is already qualified thanks to his summer podium in Singapore.

Back at INSEP, Tomac has reunited with Mathieu Neuillet, his long-time coach in Amiens; the former Cal Berkeley swimmer looks revitalized after a tricky post-Olympic year and will try to turn this form into medals at the European Short Course Championships, with the French record of his mentor Jérémy Stravius, 2011 world champion in the 100 back (49.57), firmly in mind.

A word, finally, for Jules Andre: bronze in 51.25, a personal best and a real confirmation in a deep final after his strong 200 back yesterday, proof of his current form.

Mewen Tomac, post-race, said “I’m happy, that was a good race. I repeated what I managed yesterday in the 200 back. I’ve worked a lot on my underwaters and I got some good reference points for Europeans.”

“After the Paris Olympics it was complicated. I discovered other things in the USA and focused more on my personal life. I came back to INSEP this year and I’ve settled in well. I feel calm again, I want to do things right and swim fast.”

“I have two European titles to defend in Lublin. I’ll give it everything. I’m going there to win as many medals as possible.”

Women’s 400 IM – Final

• World Record: 4:15.48, Summer Mcintosh (CAN) – 2024
• World Junior Record: 4:15.48, Summer Mcintosh (CAN) – 2024
• French Record: 4:27.31, Fantine Lesaffre – 2018
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 4:34.37

Top 8:

1. Camille Tissandie (Canet 66 Natation) — 4:39.43
2. Tess Tinker (Stade Olympique Chambéry) — 4:41.64
3. Manon Domingeon (Grenoble ALP’38) — 4:45.67
4. Clara Mougenot (ES Massy Natation) — 4:46.26
5. Inès Delacroix (CN Brest) — 4:49.52
6. Maelle Large (Grenoble ALP’38) — 4:49.82
7. Ella Tinker (Stade Olympique Chambéry) — 4:55.42
8. Tetiana Afanasieva (UKR) (C. Paul-Bert Rennes) — 4:58.10

Camille Tissandie completes the medley double: after the 200 yesterday, she dips under 4:40 for the first time with 4:39.43, leading from start to finish. She held off a late charge from junior Tess Tinker (2008), a solid silver in 4:41.64, with Manon Domingeon taking bronze in 4:45.67.

Tissandie is still some way off the Lublin qualifying mark (4:34.37) despite her progress.

The absence of France’s medley standard-bearer Cyrielle Duhamel is also felt, leaving a real void while giving the youngsters room to assert themselves.

Men’s 200 Breaststroke – Final

• World Record: 2:00.16, Kirill Prigoda (RUS) – 2018
• World Junior Record: 2:03.23, Akihiro Yamaguchi (JPN) – 2012
• French Record: 2:02.00, Léon Marchand – 2025
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 2:05.51

Top 8:

1. Antoine Viquerat (Racing Club de France) — 2:05.84
2. Carl Aitkaci (CS Clichy 92 / CNE–INSEP) — 2:06.05
3. Antoine Marc (Mulhouse ON / CE Grand-Est) — 2:07.32
4. Melaine Lainé (Étoiles 92 / CE Île-de-France) — 2:10.32
5. Corentin Mouton (EN Caen) — 2:10.37
6. Jonah Werhann (Charleville-Mézières Natation) — 2:11.03
7. Constantin Malachi (Léo L. Schiltigheim-Bischheim) — 2:11.17
8. Millian Boucher (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) — 2:11.50

A muted opening from the breaststrokers despite a fine duel between Viquerat and Aitkaci. Long in control, Carl Aitkaci yielded on the final 25 m to the late surge of Antoine Viquerat, who won in 2:05.84 to 2:06.05.

Neither swimmer met the Lublin qualifying standard (2:05.51), a far cry from the freshly lowered French record of 2:02.00 by Léon Marchand.

Worth noting, Antoine Marc took third in 2:07.32, a personal best.

Antoine Viquerat remains strong over 200 m, but his major progress in the sprint lately and becoming French record holder in the 50 and a World Championship semifinalist in Singapore shows he has serious weapons in the 50 and 100 m, all while balancing a job in luxury watchmaking in Geneva.

Aitkaci, with a profile leaning toward the 100 m, will also be one to watch on the shorter distances.

Women’s 50 Butterfly – Final

• World Record: 23.72, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2025
• World Junior Record: 24.55, Claire Curzan (USA) – 2021
• French Record: 24.43, Béryl Gastaldello – 2024
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 25.47

Top 8:

1. Béryl Gastaldello (Montpellier Métropole Natation / INSEP) — 25.13
2. Mélanie Henique (CN Marseille) — 25.61
3. Maty Ndoye-Brouard (Dauphins d’Annecy) — 25.96
4. Jeanne De Murcia (Stade Béthune Pélican Club) — 25.99
5. Analia Pigrée (Canet 66 Natation) — 26.03
6. Andréanne Bourseul (Nantes Natation) — 26.27
7. Sofia Kolb (Lyon Natation Métropole) — 26.62
8. Alix Predine (Canet 66 Natation) — 26.78

Victory for French record holder Béryl Gastaldello in 25.13, shy of her national mark (24.43), with a medal and qualification in the bag and a second title at these championships after yesterday’s 100 free.

Mélanie Henique (32) (25.61) pushed her hard over the first 25 m: thanks to her huge start she led at halfway, before fading on the return and missing the Lublin standard (25.47) by 14 hundredths.

Maty Ndoye-Brouard took bronze in 25.96, a personal best and first time under 26 seconds, though it won’t be enough to join her brother Yohann in Poland.

A deep final that underlines Gastaldello’s grip on France’s sprint.

Béryl Gastaldello, post race “Terrible ! At 25 meters my hand completely slipped, you’ll see it on the video  so it looked ugly. The main thing is done with the title and the time, even if I have more under the foot.”

“My best is 24.4; it’s awful to have a race like that at this level… it happens, but it was really ugly. Still, that’s the second ticket validated; there are three more to go, including two tomorrow, so focus on what’s next. I took a lot of pleasure out there, and that’s why I’m very satisfied.”

Men’s 200 Butterfly – Final

• World Record: 1:46.85, Tomoru Honda (JPN) – 2022
• World Junior Record: 1:49.61, Chen Juner (CHN) – 2022
• French Record: 1:50.73, Franck Esposito – 2022
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 1:52.28

Top 8:

1. Clément Secchi (CN Marseille) — 1:52.61 (53.26 at 100)
2. Sandro Henras-Marouf (ASPTT Toulouse / CNE Font-Romeu)
3. Matéo Grégoire-Charmasson (Nautic Club Nîmes / CE PACA–Martigues) — 1:56.45 (French 17-year-old record)
4. Angel Exposito (Grenoble ALP’38) — 1:56.58
5. Dorian Pedro-Leal (ASPTT Montpellier) — 1:57.88
6. Marin Debril (C. Paul-Bert Rennes / CE Bretagne–Rennes) — 1:58.02
7. Mathis Khadraoui (ASM Chamalières Natation) — 1:58.84
8. Henri-Dominique Passani (Étoiles 92) — 1:59.75

A wire-to-wire performance from showman Clément Secchi, who was untouchable as he claimed his first title of these championships in 1:52.61.

After blasting through the 100 in 53.26 with nearly two seconds in hand, he found himself racing the clock and narrowly missed the Lublin standard (1:52.28) after a tough final 50 (29.8).

With no swimmer meeting the qualifying mark and Secchi already qualified in the 100 fly, a discretionary selection for the 200 could be considered.

Behind him, Sandro Henras-Marouf smashed his personal best by about two seconds for silver (1:56.18), and Matéo Grégoire-Charmasson took bronze in 1:56.45, a huge PB of roughly three seconds and a French 17-year-old record, erasing Jordan Coelho’s 2009 mark.

A final brimming with promise for France’s next wave of butterfly talent.

Women’s 200 Freestyle – Final

• World Record: 1:49.36, Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 2025
• World Junior Record: 1:51.62, Claire Weinstein (USA) – 2024
• French Record: 1:51.65, Camille Muffat – 2012
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 1:55.15

Top 8:

1. Marina Jehl (Canet 66 Natation) — 1:55.41
2. Anastasia Urbaniak (Grenoble ALP’38) — 1:56.85
3. Eloise Riley (Canet 66 Natation) — 1:57.00
4. Lucile Tessariol (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) — 1:57.52
5. Maeline Bessard (Grenoble ALP’38) — 1:59.09
6. Anna Egorova (CS Clichy 92) — 1:59.73
7. Maeva Soldermann (Dauphins de St-Louis / CNE Font-Romeu) — 1:59.94
8. Valentine Leclercq (Grenoble ALP’38) — 2:00.34

A repeat of yesterday’s 100: Marina Jehl, Anastasia Urbaniak (first senior call-up), and Eloise Riley (a Franco-Australian and former Cal Berkeley swimmer, also on her first senior call-up) confirmed their sparkling form and stacked up personal bests to fill the podium (1:55.41 / 1:56.85 / 1:57.00). None, however, dipped under the qualifying standard of 1:55.15.

A slight disappointment for Lucile Tessariol (1:57.52), a member of the 4×200 m at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics and the field’s best on paper, who couldn’t quite hit top gear tonight.

Men’s 50 Freestyle – Final

• World Record: 19.90, Jordan Crooks (CAY) – 2024
• World Junior Record: 20.98, Kenzo Simons (NED) – 2019
• French Record: 20.26, Florent Manaudou – 2014
• French European SC Championship Qualifying Time: 21.17

Top 8:

1. Maxime Grousset (CS Clichy 92 / INSEP) — 20.81
2. Youssef Ramadan (Égypte) — 21.27
3. Nikita Baez (Lyon Natation Métropole) — 21.34
4. Matteo Robba (Olympic Nice Natation) — 21.57
5. Corentin Pouillart (Amiens Métropole Natation / INSEP) — 21.85
6. Louis Picoche (Nantes Natation) — 21.95
7. Alexandre D’Agata (Dauphins Toulouse OEC) — 22.06
8. Nathan Nsembene (Étoiles 92) — 22.24

In the grand French tradition of ultra-sprint, the 50 freestyle brought down the curtain on Day 2 with a third title already for Maxime Grousset.

In 20.81 (after 20.87 this morning), the New Caledonian punched his ticket to Lublin, brushed his personal best (20.78), and climbed to fourth in the world this season, behind Canadians Josh Liendo & Ilya Kharun and American Jack Alexy. The time makes him one of the big favorites for the European Short Course Championships, and the top European performer of the year so far.

Behind him, Youssef Ramadan took silver in 21.27 and Nikita Baez bronze in 21.34: despite his 21.69 long-course reference, Baez missed the qualifying standard of 21.17 by 0.17 and won’t make the trip to Poland.

Matteo Robba, fourth in 21.57, completed the French podium behind Grousset and Baez.

Now the only question is what program Grousset can stack in Lublin: 50/100 free, 50/100 fly, 100 IM, perhaps 200 free, not to mention the relays… a true good problem to have.

 Maxime Grousset said post-race: “That’s very good. I don’t go under 21 that often at French Championships, so I can be happy with the race. I wanted a bit more, but I wasn’t lucid enough to hit a great finish, I think I can be a touch faster.”

“There are two or three small things to put in place. I’m very happy with the non-swimming parts because I’ve worked them a lot and progressed. I’m not afraid to stay underwater.”

Saturday brings a packed Day 3 with Grousset slated twice (50 fly then 200 free), the women’s 50 free as the sprint highlight, and a full program: men’s 100 breast, women’s 100 back, men’s 400 IM, women’s 200 breast, men’s 50 fly, women’s 200 fly, men’s 200 free, women’s 50 free, and women’s 800 free.