The French Federation has announced its team for the 2014 Short Course World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Led by Florent Manaudou, a triple gold medalist at European Championships this past summer, the team includes six men and five women:
- Yannick Agnel
- Florent Manaudou
- Mehdy Metella
- Clément Mignon
- Giacomo Perez Dortona
- Benjamin Stasiulis
- Charlotte Bonnet
- Mathilde Cini
- Mélanie Henique
- Anna Santamans
- Marie Wattel
Manaudou finished second in the 50 free to Vlad Morozov two years ago at Short Course worlds, but is coming off a very successful long course season that culminated in three golds at Euros, including a championship record in the 50 free. Agnel had a disappointing Euros but is back training in familiar territory, having recently traded Bob Bowman and North Baltimore for Lionel Horter and Mulhouse.
Metella was a member of France’s gold medal-winning 400 free relay and swam fly on the silver medal-winning 400 medley relay at Euros. Perez Dortona swam breast on that medley relay. Mignon was on both the men’s 400 free relay and the bronze medal-winning mixed 400 free relay with Anna Santamans. Stasiulis finaled in both the 100 and 200 back at Euros and led off the medley relay.
When Camille Muffat retired abruptly before Euros last summer, Bonnet was thrust into the spotlight as a potential successor, and it was hoped she would lead the charge for the future of French women’s swimming. But Bonnet failed to live up to expectations at Euros. Instead, it was Santamans who impressed on the women’s side. The sprinter missed the podium by one spot in the 50 free and won a bronze medal as a member of the mixed 400 free relay.
Wattel is the youngest member of the French squad. She swam 50 and 100 fly at Euros. Henique also competed in the 50 fly in Berlin, while Cini was in the 50 and 100 back.
The French will be led by delegation chief Pierre Grosbois and head coach Romain Barnier. Other members of the staff include:
- Director of Racing: Patrice Cassagne
- Coaches: Lionel Horter, Julien Jacquier, Maxime Leutenegger, Fabrice Pellerin
- Doctor: Stephane Lefebvre
- Physical therapists: Arnaud Tixier, Alexandra Le Goff
- Analyst: Denis Westrich
Florent Manaudou and Anna Santamans are the only two on the above list that were also part of the 9-member French delegation at the 11th FINA Short Course Worlds in Instanbul in 2012, where France finished 22nd on the medals table.
Small but pretty good roster overall.
At least we’ll have competitive relays on the men’s side.
At least we will see a good match between Cielo and Manaudou in 50free.In 100free, Manaudou will be alone.His 45.0 TB is a very, very strong time.
I would also day another good match with Fraser-Holmes and Agnel in the 200
I would think that Dwyer and Lochte would be in the mix as well. But depending on which Agnel we see, it may just be a race for 2nd.
What about Hagino? I haven’t followed his SC times in the free.
Also, what about Manadou in the 100IM? He and perhaps Vlad are probably the only ones that can give Lochte a good chase in that event.
They might even get close to the WR all together, I had forgot about that one! Should be a race to watch
In the 100, Morozov has been much more consistent. Manaudou’s 45.0 is sick, but he’s also swam a lot of 46-47’s, or hurt his shoulders trying to straight-arm the 100. Morozov has been 45-point many, many times. I’d go with Vlad, but it should be a good race.
If Manaudou is at his best he will be tought to beat.
For Agnel it depends on which Agnel we’ll see.
tough to beat
Feeling deflated.
Can FINA keep calling it a “World Championship” if most countries don’t even send their A-squad? France is *barely* entering enough for a relay. It’s too bad a six-continent championship can have weaker competition than Europe only.
Since when has European Short Course Championships ever been faster than World Short Course Championships?
Never.
Most of the top athletes don´t do short course, but still there were many interesting races 2 years ago in Istanbul!
Good team on men’s side! I am little disappointed that Jeremy Stravius is not on the team. he could have helped the relays a lot with his lochte-like underwaters
He had a tough year with a back injury and a little lack of motivation. He trained less to have a new start mentally and physically for the last 2 years of his career in 2015 and 2016.
Kazan and Rio are his goals now.
I thinky now only RUS JPN and CHN are yet to announce their team from the big powers to go.. correct?
Japan have announced a team of 16 Men and 17 Women with the likes of Irie, Hagino, Seto and Koseki all chosen
Russia can’t afford to announce a team until they’re reasonably certain that everyone under consideration is clean. If I was their anti-doping head, anyone who wanted to be named would be peeing in a cup every three days until they step up to the blocks. I think their first strike will have fallen off by Doha if they’re doing a rolling one year to determine it, but they can’t take any chances in that regard.
And australia as well