The French men’s and women’s 4x100m medley relays both qualified for the final of the World Swimming Championships on Sunday in Fukuoka (Japan).
The men, led by their two world champions of the week, Léon Marchand and Maxime Grousset, achieved the second fastest time in the series in 3 min 31 sec 61, behind the United States and ahead of Australia.
“It was pretty good, I was very careful on the relay take-off, I think I can do better tonight,” said Marchand, who swam the breaststroke relay.
The day after his world title in the 100m butterfly, Maxime Grousset said he was “rather serene”. “I knew we had a good team to go through so I controlled well.”
“Why not try to get that podium,” he added.
Among the women, the blue relay composed of Pauline Mahieu, Charlotte Bonnet, Marie Wattel and Lison Nowaczyk, achieved the seventh time in the series in 3 min 58 sec 54.
“I’m happy because it wasn’t won. We did a great relay, ”said Marie Wattel, the day after her elimination in the 50m freestyle play-offs. “Waking up a bit stung but I told Julien (Jacquier, his coach) that even if I was in survival mode, I was going to give everything for the team.”
The two French women engaged in the 400m medley, Fantine Lesaffre and Cyrielle Duhamel, however failed to reach the final, achieving the 14th and 20th times.
The men will start at 9:19 p.m. for the final (2:19 p.m. Paris time), while the women will dive at 9:37 p.m. (2:37 p.m.). Another Frenchman will defend his chances in the final, David Aubry, engaged in the 1500m freestyle from 8:16 p.m. (1:16 p.m., Paris time).
