World Champs Profile: Maxime Grousset is France’s Overshadowed Man
Leading into the start of the World Championships later this month, Swimming World will publish a handful of short profiles on top contenders for the podium in Singapore. Our next entry in this series features France’s Maxime Grousset, who is often overshadowed by the exploits of countryman Leon Marchand.
Maxime Grousset
France
Events: 50 Freestyle/100 Freestyle/50 Butterfly/100 Butterfly
The Road to Singapore
At the French Elite Championships in mid-June, Grousset sent a message that a big summer awaits. The 26-year-old bested the competition in the 50 freestyle (21.68), 100 freestyle (47.50), 50 butterfly (22.70) and 100 butterfly (50.11). The fly efforts place Grousset at No. 2 and No. 1 in the world rankings. If Grousset can manage his individual schedule and his relay duty, multiple trips to the podium are expected.
Top Career Achievement
While there are multiple individual performances from which to choose, we’re going with a relay performance as Grousset’s premier accomplishment. In front of a home crowd at last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, France earned the bronze medal in the men’s 400 medley relay, marking a first for the nation in the event on the Olympic stage. Teaming with Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Leon Marchand and Florent Manaudou, Grousset played no small role in the outcome, as he delivered a butterfly split of 49.57.
Previous World Champs Hardware
The Grousset trophy case includes six medals from the World Championships, half of which were collected at the 2023 edition in Fukuoka. Two summers ago, Grousset was crowned champion of the 100 butterfly and added bronze medals in the 100 freestyle and 50 butterfly.
Stat Fact
Thanks to his recent swim of 50.11 in the 100 butterfly, Grousset is ranked sixth all-time in the event. However, he appears poised to join the sub-50 club, which currently has only five members – Caeleb Dressel, Kristof Milak, Michael Phelps, Milorad Cavic and Joshua Liendo.
World Champs Profile
