Double blow for the Blues in swimming.
The 4x50m freestyle relay won the final of the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, with the world record in the discipline at stake.
The relay made up of Mélanie Henique, Béryl Gastaldello, Maxime Grousset and Florent Manaudou won in 1′27′'33 ahead of the Australian quartet by almost 7 tenths, despite being at home.
The previous record was held by the American relay in 1′27′'89 achieved in Hangzhou in 2018.
Highlight of the relay: Florent Manaudou, reigning Olympic vice-champion in the 50m freestyle, completed a superb second relay in 20′'26 in the wake of Maxime Grousset who launched the Blues in 20′'92 (Les Etats United were in the lead after Michael Andrew's first stint in 20′'81).
In the lead at halfway, the blue relay was able to count on its women, Beryl Gastaldello and Mélanie Henique held the end of the relay with an almost similar time (23′'00 for the first, 23′'15 for the second) .
🏊 ♂️ We start the day with a world record for the 4x50m mixed freestyle relay (small pool) 🤩
👑 Florent Manaudou, Beryl Gastaldello, Maxime Grousset, Mélanie Henique are world champions! pic.twitter.com/8m520GpGj0
– Team France (@EquipeFRA) December 16, 2022
From the morning series, the French had sent a message by signing, this Friday, very early in France, the best morning time for the mixed 4x50 m freestyle relay in 1′29′'69.
Mary-Ambre Moluh then replaced Béryl Gastaldello as the last torchbearer on the blue side.
This coronation came to consecrate the hopes placed, once again in the relays, for these Worlds in Melbourne.
This is the first gold medal for the French team at these Short Course World Championships, the third charm for the Blues after two in silver.
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