2014 Swammy Awards: European Male Swimmer of the Year Florent Manaudou

To see all of the 2014 Swammy Award winners, presented by TYR, click here.

2014 HONOREE: Florent Manaudou, France

Florent Manaudou of France had a tremendous year, experiencing great success at both the European Championships in Berlin and the World Short Course Championships in Doha.

Manaudou walked away from the European Championships with four gold, three individual and one relay. He took gold in both the 50 and 100 freestyle, tied Belarusian Yauhen Tsurkin for the win in the 50 butterfly and was part of the French team that won the 4 x 100 freestyle relay.

He set a championship record in the 50 freestyle while the French relay did the same in the 4 x 100 freestyle.

He finished the long course season ranked first in the 50 freestyle as well as fourth in the 100 freestyle and 50 butterfly.

Manaudou was even more impressive at the World Short Course Championships in Doha where he collected three gold, two silver and one bronze.

He won the 50 freestyle in a time of 20.26 breaking Roland Schoeman‘s 2009 world record of 20.30. He won the 50 backstroke in a time of 22.22 breaking Peter Marshall‘s 2009 record of 22.61.

Manaudou earned his third gold in the men’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay.

He also collected a silver in both the 100 freestyle and 4 x 50 medley relay and won a bronze in the 4 x 100 medley relay.

HONORABLE MENTIONS (In no particular order)

• Adam Peaty of Great Britain collected four gold at the European Championships, winning the 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke, 4 x 100 medley relay and 4 x 100 mixed medley relay. Peaty set the 50 breaststroke world record swimming a 26.62 in the semi-final in Berlin. He was also part of a Great Britain’s 4 x 100 mixed medley relay team which also set a world record in Berlin. Peaty also won two gold and a silver at the Commonwealth Games and two silver at the World Short Course Championships in Doha.
• Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy had a fantastic year winning gold in both the 800 and 1500 freestyle at the European Championships in Berlin. He also won the 1500 freestyle at the World Short Course Championships in Doha. Paltrinieri set new European marks in the 1500 freestyle at both competition.