The French Federation (FFN) announced the 15-member team that will represent the Tricolor at the 13th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2016 in Windsor, Canada. After the four-day national short course meet in Angers, France that took place from November 17-20 the FFN put forth the list of swimmers who had met the selection criteria:
Women
- Mathilde CINI (1994) VALENCE TRIATHLON
- Solène GALLEGO (1995) DAUPHINS TOEC
- Mélanie HENIQUE (1992) CN MARSEILLE
- Fantine LESAFFRE (1994) MONTPELLIER METROPOLE NATATION
- Anna SANTAMANS (1993) CN MARSEILLE
- Marie WATTEL (1997) MONTPELLIER METROPOLE NATATION
Men
- Thomas AVETAND (1995) AMIENS METROPOLE NATATION
- Joris BOUCHAUT (1995) DAUPHINS TOEC
- Jean DENCAUSSE (1997) CN MARSEILLE
- Oleg GARASYMOVYTCH (1997) CN AVIGNON
- Yonel GOVINDIN (1993) CN MARSEILLE
- Mehdy METELLA (1992) CN MARSEILLE
- Clément MIGNON (1993) CN MARSEILLE
- Jordan POTHAIN (1994) NAUTIC CLUB ALP 38
- Jérémy STRAVIUS (1988) AMIENS METROPOLE NATATION
With the absence of regular internationals Florent Manaudou, Fabien Gilot, Camille Lacourt, Gregory Mallet, William Meynard, Frédérick Bousquet, and Yannick Agnel on the men’s side and Coralie Balmy on the women’s, it will be a very different looking French team from what we have seen over the last four years. In fact, contrary to the squad that represented France in Rio, this is a young team; the average age is only 22 years old. Jérémy Stravius is the only athlete born in the 80s; the others range from 1992 to 1997. For a few (Solène Gallego, Thomas Avetand, Oleg Garasymovytch, and Yonel Govindin), this is their first big opportunity to represent France in international competition. Still, there are several swimmers on the squad with experience –and success– on the international stage. Stravius is a world champion (100 back, 2011), and he and Mehdy Metella were members of the silver medal-winning 4×100 free relay in Rio.
Lets see what they will be able to bring on to start fresh from the Rio debacle …i am wishing them the best .
Govindin represented France at both the World University Games in Korea and the European Champs in Israel last year, but looking forward to seeing what he’s capable of this time regardless
What happened to Charlotte bonnet ?
She swam at French nationals last week and won the 200 free in 1.53.17. She qualified for Windsor but will not go. She had planned since Rio to skip the SCM world championships to stay in Nice and train for the long course season.
Correction. It wasn’t exactly planned since Rio. I’ve just read what she and her coach said and there was still a little doubt but it was very unlikely to see her swim in Canada next month. They have more a long-term approach. The goal is Budapest next year. I add that she swam the 200 free with a little shoulder pain.