After the 100 m NL heats (12th time in 48′'25), Maxime Grousset, 22, had conceded a slight excess of insurance.
“I didn't have that little adrenaline rush that I usually have in front of the block, blew the Insep sprinter on Tuesday evening.
Maybe I was a little too confident, I don't know… ”
Wednesday morning, in the semi-final, the New Caledonian did not miss his chance, snatching his place in extremis among the roller coaster of the queen distance with a promising time of 47''82.
Meanwhile, the Russian Kliment Kolesnikov, in 47′'11, set the best time and broke by a hundredth the European record held by Alain Bernard since 2009, ahead of the big favorite Caeleb Dressel (47′'23 ).
“I went through all the emotions a bit.
I had the stress and the pressure of this semi-final.
Then I broke free.
I swam well on the first 50 m, I pass in the first
(Editor's note: 2nd time in 22′'81)
.
I have a little trouble finishing the 100m, I think we had to dare, that we had to try something.
"
#EnDirect # Tokyo2020 #natation
Semi-finals of the 100m NL men
Maxime Grousset for his first participation in the Olympics qualifies for the final with the 8th time in 47.82 🔥👍 # TeamFFN #Allezlesbleus
📸 KMSP / S.Kempinaire pic.twitter.com/ PaEAOAmOqE
- FFN (@FFNatation) July 28, 2021
As a result, the young man achieved his second fastest time behind that achieved on Monday at the start of the final of the 4 x 100 m NL relay.
“When I see that, I'm really happy to be part of this final.
I was really scared, he continues.
When I saw the time, I said to myself:
it's dead, it should have been 47''70
.
But there, I deserve my place, that's all.
An Olympic final is a dream.
"
Thursday, the Habs will have nothing to lose. Figurehead of the “2024 generation” with Léon Marchand, Mewen Tomac and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Grousset has already achieved a stunning performance given the density of the painting. "I'm skipping stages," he smiles. I was not sure if I qualified at the start of the season. I qualify in June. I'm going to the semi-finals, to the final. Everything aligns. "