Maxime Grousset, winner of the 100m butterfly on Saturday at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka (Japan), savors his first planetary title one year from the Paris Games: “I am realizing my dreams little by little and I hope to realize my biggest dream in a year,” he said.
You had very little experience on this event. How did you approach this final?
“It’s the first time I’ve swum a 100m butterfly in an international championship. I went there without preconceptions, I trusted myself, I felt strong so I went all out. In terms of form, I already felt good yesterday (Friday). I had after-effects from the 100m freestyle which had hurt me a lot. But today (Saturday) I woke up with the smile, I said to myself: It’s my day, I feel good!
Can you tell us about your race?
“I knew I was going to go ahead. I make a terrible touch in the 50m but despite that I manage to make a big turnaround and a good second casting and I keep my speed. The last five meters, it was really hard because I feel (my opponents), I see that we are right next to them, that they are coming back hard on me. So at that moment I really said to myself: come on, push, slide, push, slide! I was just thinking about that. At the end, the last movement, I stayed as tense as possible to have as little resistance as possible and in the end I see the small block N.1, I was so happy.
Admittedly, the favorites Kristof Milak and Caeleb Dressel were absent, but your time (50 sec 14) is very encouraging one year from the Paris Games…
“They weren’t there, for sure that left a door a little more open for me. If they are there (in the future), I will do everything to beat them and we will see. I hope to make further progress in the 100m butterfly and do wonders.”
what do you mean?
“Winning at the Olympics! I always said it. I am realizing my dreams little by little and I hope to realize my biggest dream in a year.”