Maxime Grousset and Mary-Ambre Moluh secured silver medals for the French swimming team at the European Championships in Paris, lifting the host nation’s total to six podium finishes across four days of competition. Grousset finished second in a competitive 100-meter butterfly final with a time of 49.70 seconds, while Moluh claimed silver in the 50-meter backstroke by clocking 27.06 seconds.
Maxime Grousset Powers Through 100M Butterfly Final
The men’s 100-meter butterfly final delivered a high-stakes duel between Maxime Grousset and Hungary’s Kristof Milak. Grousset led much of the race before Milak surged in the final meters to touch first in 49.48 seconds, reclaiming the European record from the Frenchman. Switzerland’s Noè Ponti rounded out the podium in 49.93 seconds.
Grousset admitted he felt the physical toll of a challenging buildup. Returning from a metatarsal fracture, the French sprinter expressed satisfaction with dipping under the 50-second barrier in front of an energetic home crowd. “I am really proud of myself, to go under 50 seconds with a less than optimal preparation,” Grousset said in broadcast comments. “There was a crazy atmosphere. I started well but unfortunately, I cracked a little on the end. He was stronger than me.”
Mary-Ambre Moluh Sets Record in 50M Backstroke
In the women’s 50-meter backstroke, 20-year-old Mary-Ambre Moluh secured her second medal of the championships following her earlier victory in the mixed 4×100-meter medley relay. Moluh posted a time of 27.06 seconds, setting a French record and taking second place behind Italy’s Sara Curtis.
Curtis dominated the event by breaking the world record for the second day, clocking 26.56 seconds to claim the gold medal. Great Britain’s Lauren Cox earned the bronze in 27.15 seconds, while France’s Analia Pigrée finished seventh in 27.57 seconds. “I didn’t really know what to expect, I had a good race, I felt good,” Moluh said. “When I lifted my head to look at the scoreboard, I was a little scared, but I’m super happy with this time and this place.”
Yohann Ndoye-Brouard Advances as French Squad Eyes Next Finals
Yohann Ndoye-Brouard bounced back from an early exit in the 200-meter backstroke by advancing to the final of the 50-meter backstroke. Ndoye-Brouard posted a time of 24.43 seconds in the semifinals and will race for a medal. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Sauveur Cristofini missed the 200-meter freestyle final by just two hundredths of a second, setting a personal best of 1:45.74.
The French team holds six total medals as the competition progresses toward individual events featuring Léon Marchand. Competition continues at the venue in Paris ahead of the weekend finals.
Keep reading
