“There is everything to review”: a year before the Paris 2024 Olympics, French freestyle is not up to par

While Budapest allowed the Blues to win two individual medals last year, the Momochi Seaside Beachpark in Fukuoka (SW Japan) didn’t smile at the Blues. The French team could not match either the Germans (five medals, including four titles) or the Italians (three medals). One year before the Olympics.

In the absence of Marc-Antoine Olivier, who was not selected for disciplinary reasons, the experienced Aurélie Müller, who finished seventh in the 5K, had the best individual result, while the mixed relay could only finish fifth on Thursday, well behind the Italian winners.

“Next year we’ll have to wonder”

At the only distance of the Olympic Games program – 10 km – the French Anastasia Kirpichnikova and Okean Casinol took 13th and 16th places, while Logan Fontaine and Sasha Valley finished 9th and 12th. “We were beaten,” sums up Stéphane Lecathe, boss of French open water.

“We are inevitably disappointed, in the relay we expected to play for third place, and in general we are very disappointed with (all) events,” admits French swimming technical director Julien Isoulier. We will have to ask ourselves questions. »

At the end of the relay, the French swimmers did not hide their disappointment. “You have to face it, we’re finishing fifth because we just don’t have the level,” said David Aubrey, the latest torchbearer. “A year before the Games, we will have to ask ourselves a question in order to perform next year. It is very good to say that we are French and that the Games are at home, but we definitely need to work,” he added.

After a few days of rest, the Blues will gather for an internship in Vichy, where they planned to restore order before the World Cup stage, which will be held in Paris on August 5 and 6. Asked what needs to be worked on before the Games, Aurélie Muller, 5k world vice-champion last year, answered succinctly: “That’s it. There is everything to review. »