French s/c Championships Finish With A Flourish For Grousset, Gastaldello And Tomac
The French Short Course Championships came to an end with more trips to the top of the podium for Maxime Grousset, Beryl Gastaldello and Mewen Tomac.
The four-day event in Val-Parisis doubled as trials for the short-course Europeans which take place in Lublin, Poland, from 2-7 December.
Grousset had already completed the 50/100 fly double as well as the 50 free and 100IM by the time he stood on the blocks on Sunday for the final of the 100 free, in which he won silver at the 2022 s/c worlds in Melbourne.
Maxime Grousset: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
He touched the wall 45.66 seconds later to claim his fifth crown to go well inside the QT for Lublin and add another event to his programme.
Youssef Ramaddan of Egypt concluded a fine meet with second in100IM 46.39 with Clement Secchi the second Frenchman home although his time of 47.26 was outside the cut, Roman Fuchs next in 47.39.
Grousset, who propels himself into the top five for 2025, said through the French Federation: “The week is ending well. In the warm-up I saw myself swimming fast but maybe not as much.”
Gastaldello has also enjoyed a golden streak in Val-Parisis. The 30-year-old had amassed four titles leading into the final day where she made it five in the 100IM with a dominant 58.67, well inside the QT and the only woman to break the minute mark.
“The breaststroke was difficult,” she said. “I feel that I’m not fast. The effort was there and with freshness and training I can accelerate again. I’m happy tonight because it’s my fifth title and it’s not insignificant. You have to take what you have to take. It’s been a positive week. I don’t usually do these times in a comeback competition. We’re going to a training camp tomorrow, we’ll have to get back on track quickly and I can’t wait to see how it will look like at the Euros. I’m going to do everything I can to be in better shape.”
Mewen Tomac had already won the 100/200 back double by the time the 50 came around. Ramaddan was first home in 23.22 with Tomac the first Frenchman as he secured the national backstroke treble in 23.26, a sliver outside the QT. Yohann Ndoye Brouard was next in 23.55. Tomac returned to take the 200IM where he finished four seconds ahead in 1:53.31 to book another event on his programme.
Beryl Gastaldello: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
“Let’s say it’s okay. I lack a bit of juice at 150m with the three days that have gone before,” he said. “It bothers me a little not to do the time in the 50m backstroke, I hope I can add that. But I’m happy because in the 200m medley, I wasn’t necessarily aiming for time, I just wanted to have fun in the water. I feel good. In the backstroke, I’m still getting my bearings in the races. I did quite well on the 200 free to let myself go and have a lot of fun. On the back, it’s a little more complicated, but it’s already much better than last year. I’m on the right track. I still have the ambition to win medals in international competitions. It makes me want to do great things in December, even if the priority remains the Paris Euros.”
There’ll be a full complement in the men’s 1500 free with four men inside the cut. Captain Damien Joly, already assured of a place finished third in 14:40.12, and will be joined by David Aubry, winner in 14:37.86, Sacha Velly (14:38.82) and Emile Vincent (14:40.45)
Jérémie Delbois added the 50 to the 100m breaststroke in 26.23.
