Gwangju (South Korea) (AFP)
Second world final for Marie Wattel: after the 100 butterfly on Monday, the French swimmer qualified for the 50 butterfly with the third fastest time in the semi-finals, France's record at the World Swimming Championships , Friday in Gwangju (South Korea).
Wattel (22), who completed his race in 25 sec 56, planed his personal best of thirty-four hundredths, and the French record of seven.
Sweden's Sarah Sjöström, a two-time world title holder and world record holder (24.43), was fastest (24.79) ahead of Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands (25.54).
"I saw myself out in front of the fifteen meters, I did not understand! After, I just unrolled.It's a big surprise for me.It's nice to win (she won the first semifinal, It's a really cool feeling, it's been a long time since I've felt so good, "said the one who's been training since the summer of 2017 in Loughborough, England.
"Tomorrow (Saturday), we will try to correct the finish and glean a few hundredths but I will not set time and place.I want to have fun, to have a good race. , personal record beaten by four tenths (34 hundredths in fact, ed), record of France, it is already won, "she continues.
The final of this non-Olympic race is scheduled for Saturday.
On Monday, Wattel finished eighth and last in the 100 butterfly for his first-ever world final, having already swum third place in the semi-finals. In the space of a day, she had increased her personal best by more than half a second, from 57 seconds to 57 seconds.
The French record of the 50 m butterfly previously belonged to Mélanie Hénique (25.63).
© 2019 AFP