The Vortex, June 2025: Ndoye-Brouard Overhauls Herlem & Tomac In Last-Lap Sprint For 1:56 French 200 Back Crown
The Vortex, our monthly compilation of news, views & links to external coverage of the sport, is available as part of our offer of free content emailed to those who register as 'free' subscribers. Our weekly FORUM newsletter and a deeper dive in our coverage are available for paid subscribers
Yohann Ndoye-Brouard and Antoine Herlem in the 200m backstroke, Béryl Gastaldello, by 0.01sec in the 100m freestyle, plus Antoine Viquerat and Pierre Goudeneche, in the 50m breaststroke, produced five further tickets to Singapore World Championships on day 4 at French nationals in Montpellier.
In a session that started with 1500m Olympic silver medallist Anastasiia Kirpichnikova falling 0.05sec shy of the 800m free target in 8:26.76 (no tiger inside 8:40) - a result that may have little bearing on what actually happens in Singapore give that she is already on the team in the longer event and has had no need to taper for best form at nationals - events with plenty of room for improvement in 2025 were as much in evidence as those in which there was a sense of struggle for many.
In fewer cases, there was also a sense of powder being kept dry by those who had no need to show the pace of international competitiveness that will be required for impact at the showcase.
After Kirpichnikova's swim, the men's 200m backstroke final set off in pursuit of times inside 1.57.50. Ndoye-Brouard, Dauphins D'Annecy, grabbed the crown in 1:56.38, the reach of a hand ahead of Harlem, Dauphins Toulouse, in 1:56.52. Harlem held sway over Ndoye-Brouard at half-way, and 150m but it was Merwen Tomac, Caen, who had led the race until being overhauled by Harlem on approach to the last turn.
The last-length battle came down to the speed and momentum of a 28.63 - sole sub-29 - sprint from third to the front by Ndoye-Brouard, Tomac locked out with bronze in 1:56.83. Mathys Chouchaqui, Olympic Nice, was the fourth man inside the Singapore target, in 1:57.41. Add in Alexandre Desangles, on 1:58.30 and another from the Dauphins Toulouse club, and the French 200 back has competitive depth.
It would be much harder to same the same in several other events this day, Gastaldello the only swimmer inside 54 in the 100m free, the podium completed by Canet's Marina Jehl, 54.24, and Montpellier's Marie Wattel, 54.51, with teenager Albane Cachot on 54.61 as the last of the four candidates for 4x100m free action should France confirm a relay team.
The last of the day 4 qualifiers were Viquerat, Racing Club de France, on 27.02 in the 50m breaststroke, the cut at 27.20, Goudeneche, Girondins Bordeaux, also the right side of it, on 27.10. The bronze went to Jérémie Delbois, Olympic Nice, in 27.16.
In two finals, standards were well away from the cuts set by the FFN: the women's 200m breaststroke (cut, 2.23.91) was won by Zia Dupont, Angers, in 2:30.33, while the men's 200m medley (cut, 1.57.94) was topped by Emilien Mattenet, Charleville-Méziéres, in 2:00.55. Of course, France will be represented in the latter come the Singapore showcase next month by none other than four-times Olympic champion Léon Marchand, who was given permission to bypass trials this week so that he could stay at his base in Texas and extend his preparation period.
Other coverage from French Nationals:
Craig Lord
Craig Lord
Also In The June Vortex
- Emma Carasco & Laura Cabanes Off To World Titles After Brush With Mireia Belmonte, 34, in 200IM As Trials End
- Maxime Grousset Grabs Worlds Ticket With 22.70 French 'Fly Mark
- When Speedy Meant Inside The Cut By 0.02sec For Arbidel González
- Carmen Weiler & Estella Tonrath Lead Charge On Spanish Backstroke Standards
- Daily heats action at U.S. Championships
All Finals coverage from U.S. Championships, Canadian Trials and Australian Trials, in our News section:
Craig Lord
Craig Lord
The Vortex in Full:
