Mary-Ambre Moluh took down the French 50 back record on the third night of the national championships in Saint-Etienne where the absence of Leon Marchand loomed large.
Moluh – who swims for Cal in the US collegiate system – sped to a time of 27.20 to take 0.07 off Analia Pigree’s previous standard of 27.27 en-route to gold at the 2022 European Championships in Rome.
It elevates her to sixth performer in the 2026 rankings topped by the USA’s Katharine Berkoff (26.98) and second European behind Sara Curtis who broke the Italian record in 27.07 at the Sette Colli.
Pigree clocked 27.31 for second with Beryl Gastaldello finishing in 27.62 as the first three women home all went well inside the 27.90 qualification time for the European Championships in Paris in August.
No Qualifiers In 200 Breast In Marchand’s Absence; Third Title For Wattel
Leon Marchand: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
The 50 back was immediately followed by the men’s 200 breaststroke from which Marchand had withdrawn after feeling pain in his adductor in prelims in which he finished ninth, slowing significantly on the final 50 of his heat. The Olympic champion underwent medical treatment and his participation will become clearer with the 200 free, 200 fly and 200IM on his schedule.
Antoine Marc clinched the title in 2:11.48 ahead of Lucien Vergnes (2:12.14) and Borys Endle (2:13.16) with all three men outside the 2:10.32 QT.
Marie Wattel dominated the 100 fly to win by almost 1.5secs in 57.90 to add a third event to her schedule at the Paris showcase after already qualifying in the 50 fly and 100 free.
Lilou Ressencourt (59.37) and Lili-Rose Berthelot (59.44) joined her on the podium although both missed the cut.
Michel Arkhangelsky of Bahrain topped the men’s race in 51.41, two days after setting an Asian 50 fly mark of 22.91. Amaury Albar was the first Frenchman home in 51.82, just 0.01 off the qualification time for Paris followed by Angel Exposito (52.17) and Clement Secchi (52.38).
Maxime Grousset was ruled out of the meet after fracturing his left foot earlier this month which leaves the 2025 world champion’s his participation in the French capital in doubt.
There were no qualifiers from the women’s 400IM where Camille Tissandie pulled away on the freestyle leg to take the title in 4:44.65 ahead of Cyrielle Duhamel (4:46.96) and Alexa Reyna (4:51.51).