Mary-Ambre Moluh won her third title in as many days to lead home three women inside the 50 free cut for Paris 2026 on the penultimate evening of the French Championships in Saint-Etienne.
Moluh got the touch in 24.68 ahead of Analia Pigrée (24.73) and Marie Wattel whose time of 24.79 was 0.01 inside the qualification time for the European Championships which run from 10-16 August in the French capital.
Moluh now has the 50 free and 50 and 100 back titles in her armoury, the latter two in French record time while Wattel added the dash to her schedule after titles in the 50/100 fly and 100 free.
Sacha Velly: Photo Courtesy: European Aquatics
The men’s 100 back was rescheduled for Thursday evening after a “problem” at the start of the final although the French Federation didn’t specify what that was. In a video posted online, the swimmers had staggered starts while at least one didn’t start at all.
“The men’s 100m backstroke will be swam again tomorrow evening at the opening of the session following a problem with the start,” said the FFN.
It was reminiscent of the 200 back at the 2022 European Championships in Rome where Yohann Ndoye Brouard had to do a solo swim in the semis after issues with the starting ledge. He safely navigated it before going on to win the final at the Foro Italico.
Sacha Velly took an early lead in the 1500m freestyle which he dominated thereafter to come home in 14:51.23, a season’s best and the fifth best by a European this year.
The Thomas Javaux-trained swimmer will compete in both the open water in the River Seine and the pool this summer in a home Europeans. Emile Vincent (15:03.21) and Damien Joly (15:05.06) were next home.
Leon Marchand had been due to race the 200 fly but the Olympic champion withdrew from the meet on Tuesday with an adductor injury in what’s a race against time to compete at the Paris showcase.
Sandro Henras-Marouf won the title although his time of 1:56.99 was 0.48 off the cut with Adelaide Meuter also missing the QT in the women’s event in 2:11.60. Cyrielle Duhamel also missed out in the 200IM in 2:12.72.
