Ndoye Brouard European champion in the 200m backstroke, Wattel vice-champion in the 50m butterfly
Frenchman Yohann Ndoye Brouard became European swimming champion in the 200m backstroke on Saturday in Rome, beating his French record with a time of 1 min 55 sec 62 in the final.
While he almost never played in the final because of a technical problem (problem with the plot at the start) in the semi-finals, it was ultimately alone in the pool that he qualified. the day before for the final. Ndoye Brouard beat Hungarian Benedek Kovacs (1’56”03) and Briton Luke Greenbank (1’56”15) in the final.
” I felt strong but I was tired after the emotions of last night. After 150, I saw that I had some left and I said to myself that it was for me that one”, he explained to the microphone of France TV after the race.
Silver Wattel of the 50m butterfly
For her part, Marie Wattel was second silver medalist in the 50m butterfly in 25”33, behind Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström, world record holder at this distance, who was crowned champion for the fifth time in her career. of Europe in the 50m butterfly, Saturday in Rome, with a time of 24 sec 96.
“I’m super happy with my time, and it confirms my frustration (of the Worlds) in Budapest where I thought I could get a medal (over this distance)”, reacted Wattel, vice-world champion in the 100m. butterfly at the end of June in Hungary.
“I have more speed than in Budapest, so we’ll see how it goes for the rest. I hope to get closer to Sjöström as often as possible (in the future), but I knew she was untouchable tonight,” added Wattel.
The 3rd place on the podium was awarded by the Dutch Maaike De Waard (25”62).
World record for Popovici, Grousset failed at the foot of the podium
The Romanian David Popovici, 17, was stronger than everyone and therefore won the gold in the 100m freestyle (46”86). And above all, the Romanian broke the world record set by the Brazilian César Cielo in 2009 (46”91). Maxime Grousset failed him at the foot of the podium (4th).