Cal’s Mary-Ambre Moluh Has Emerged as Shining Star for France on Way to European Champs
For the past two years, Mary-Ambre Moluh has played a key role in Cal-Berkeley’s climb back to prominence in NCAA women’s competition. The Frenchwoman has flourished in Northern California, establishing school records in backstroke action, while fueling the Golden Bears’ relays. That success has also transferred to the long-course pool, evidence by Moluh’s efforts at the recent French Elite Championships in Saint-Etienne.
In March, Moluh helped Cal finish fourth in the team standings at the NCAA Championships, her best showing a tie for fourth place in the 100-yard backstroke. The native of Creteil also earned a tie for 12th place in the 50 freestyle and handle legs on a quartet of relays. The effort at NCAAs marked the midway point of Moluh’s collegiate career, and built momentum for the upcoming summer and her pursuit of hardware at a home European Championships in Paris.
At the French Trials for Euros, Moluh put together the finest meet of her career, as she set a pair of national records and walked away with three victories. Not only did Moluh win the 50 freestyle in 24.68, she clocked a French record of 27.20 in the 50 backstroke. However, it was the 100 backstroke where she shined brightest, as the 20-year-old touched the wall in 58.25 for a French standard that wasn’t far off the European record of 58.08, set in 2021 by Great Britain’s Kathleen Dawson.
Last summer, Moluh had a solid showing at the World Championships in Singapore, finishing eighth in the 100 backstroke and just missing the final of the 50 backstroke with a ninth-place outing. The previous year, she gained Olympic experience in Paris as a member of French relays. Now, Moluh is considerably faster, having clipped more than a second off her personal best in the 100 backstroke. In that event, she’s threatening to become the seventh woman in history to break the 58-second barrier.
When Moluh arrived in Berkeley, California, she was a recruit with potential, an athlete coach Dave Durden hoped would make an impact on the program. Two years later, Moluh has the Golden Bears surging at the NCAA level and has positioned herself for multiple podium chases at the European Championships.
