Paris (AFP)

Two phases, one throughout the winter, the other five weeks before the Tokyo Games, postponed to the summer of 2021: faced with the upheaval caused by the pandemic of new coronavirus, French swimming innovates in its qualification criteria Olympic, unveiled Friday.

Initially, French swimmers, who gradually reconnect with the pools since the end of May after more than two months without diving, will have a period of just over three months, from December 10 to March 21, to complete a demanding time, corresponding to an entry into the Olympic final. For example, 21 sec 80 for the 50 m coveted by Florent Manaudou or 1 min 56 sec 63 for the 200 m, the favorite distance of Charlotte Bonnet.

This long quarter will revolve around three main, but not exclusive, deadlines: exceptionally scheduled French Championships in large pools in December, from 10 to 13 in Saint-Raphaël, and two meetings, in Nice from February 5 to 7, and in Marseille, from March 19 to 21.

If a swimmer achieves the time fixed during this period, he will pocket an Olympic sesame, within the limit of one qualified per race.

The idea is to "secure" the tricolor spearheads without opening a "boulevard" for them, but after they have "shown a real level of performance, that they are in the battle for a medal "Olympic, summed up the national technical director (DTN) Julien Issoulié during a videoconference.

In the reflection of the blue framework also, the will to "put them back immediately in a working logic" by asking them for these "not trivial times".

- Horizon -

In a second step, the Olympic qualification will be played - as is traditionally the case - during the French Championships in the large basin which precede the Olympic Games. However, they will be later next year, from June 15 to 20 in Chartres, just five weeks before the Tokyo meeting (July 24-August 8), along the lines of the American selections.

With two guiding ideas: in the context of "not very dense (French) swimming", "keeping them under pressure" by maintaining "the strongest competition for as long as possible" and "giving time to the youngest to optimize their progress, "says DTN.

At stake, at most two tickets per race, unless one has already been allocated at the end of the first selection phase. Conditions ? A first time to swim in series, then a second faster in the final, the same as that which was initially requested for this year supposed to be Olympic.

With his individual medal won at the Worlds-2019, the bronze in the 800 m, David Aubry already has his place assured, on the sole condition of swimming in Chartres. Philippe Lucas' pupil is also qualified for the Olympic 10 km in open water.

For the relays, apart from the 4x100 m already qualified men, it will be necessary to start by obtaining one of the last four quotas. Then it is the Chartraine races that the composition will follow.

This qualification system gives a new horizon to French swimmers, who until then had no short or medium term deadlines, after the postponement of one year of the Olympics-2020, plus those of the European Championships in large pools and World Championships in small, also in 2021.

And despite the uncertain times, the tricolor management wants to be optimistic: between the anticipated return of the injured (Metella, Santamans and Cini) and "young people who will have a year more work", "I think we will have a swim a little stronger ", wets Julien Issoulié.

© 2020 AFP