The day after his title in the 200m breaststroke, Léon Marchand won the 200m freestyle at the French Swimming Championships on Monday in Rennes. The 21-year-old swimmer, a new sensation in French swimming, won in 1 min 46 sec 44.
Offset in lane 1, the Toulousain led the dance ahead of Hadrien Salvan, reigning French champion (01:46.82), and Roman Fuchs (01:46.93). Even if his time allows him to qualify for the World Championships in Fukuoka in five weeks, Marchand should not participate in this race in Japan. “No chance! Too many races, he’s not ready,” said his trainer Bob Bowman.
In the other races of this second day of competition, four riders won their place for the world meeting. Pauline Mahieu thus won the 100m backstroke in 59 sec 66 and is no longer very far from Laure Manaudou’s old French record (59.50). She will be accompanied in Japan by Analia Pigrée, reigning European champion in the 50m backstroke. Among the men, Mewen Tomac beat Yohann Ndoye Brouard in 52 sec 87.
