To be able to shine on Sunday in Rome, Analia Pigrée will have had to overcome her shoulder injury from the start of the year.
The 21-year-old French swimmer managed to remobilize to become European champion in the 50m backstroke, setting a new French record in the process.
With a time of 27 sec 27, she beat the Italian Silvia Scalia (27.53) and the Dutch Maaike De Waard (27.54).
“It was very fast, it went at breakneck speed.
I saw my opponent a bit nearby, I said to myself "I mustn't let go".
I'm breaking the French record, I'm really too happy, it was a great race, ”reacted the gold medalist.
“In training, I felt really good, I was very high on the water and everything was fine.
I thought why not, and here it is.
First European championship, first title”.
In bronze in Budapest
Analia Pigrée has come a long way.
Injured in the shoulder at the beginning of the year, she had spent several weeks out of the basins to recover.
“Nothing is certain, clearly.
We can lose absolutely everything in an injury, even the mind can be "down" directly.
It allowed me to have a good mind and to regain such physical shape, ”she explained.
For her first World Championships in Budapest in June, the Guyanese had won bronze over this same distance and had considered that this medal represented "the beginning of (her) career".
With this European title, it continues in the most beautiful way six weeks later.
In Rome, his program continues this Monday with the 100m backstroke series.
At the end of the fourth day of competition, France has six medals, including two titles.
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