Tokyo (AFP)

In difficulty for two seasons, Charlotte Bonnet stalled from the Olympic semi-finals of the 200m, a race she had won at the European Championship in 2018, and appeared tired, to the point of wondering about the rest of her career. career, Tuesday in Tokyo.

In the evening, Caeleb Dressel, the reigning two-time world champion in the 100m, and Kyle Chalmers, the outgoing Olympic champion, tied the game in the heats of the queen race, dominated by the young Italian Thomas Ceccon (47.71).

The first swam in 47 sec 73, the second in 47 sec 77.

"I hope it won't be my last Games," said Bonnet, nevertheless expected at the start of the 100m on Wednesday. That I will go to Paris so as not to end up there. "

In this case a 200 m in 1 min 57 sec 35, thirteenth fastest time only in the semi-finals, worse than in the heats (1: 56.88).

"It makes me sad not to reach this final because it was accessible," she said sorry.

Obviously disappointed, but not necessarily surprised.

“I knew it would be complicated because I had a super complicated year. There wasn't a day where it was easy, where I was able to come out of training with a smile. 'year, whether I am prepared or not, I have done the same times, in the same waters, "recounted the 26-year-old woman from Nice, whom her trainer Fabrice Pellerin did not accompany to Japan.

- "Know what I really want" -

In 2018, her best season, crowned by three European champion titles (200m, 4x100m and 4x100m mixed), Bonnet broke the barrier of 1 min 55 sec over 200 m (1: 54.95 precisely).

She also seized the French record in the 100m (52.74).

Times likely to make it change dimension.

# photo1

But since then, she has been chasing her best form.

In 2019, a sore shoulder held her back.

In 2020, the pandemic deprived her of competition for ten months.

This year, just pocketing your Olympic sesame has turned into an obstacle course.

And there was also the European disillusionment of Budapest in mid-May, with a fourth place.

What does she want today?

From a "break to ask myself the right questions. Knowing what I really want, where I want to go and how. Because it's been two very, very long and complicated years", answers the 2016 Olympic finalist.

"I was already super happy to qualify for the Games, that's when I tell myself that there may be a problem: it should be something super simple at my level", remarks- she.

Over 100 m, with Ceccon, Dressel and Chalmers, there are a total of five to have completed the round trip in less than 47 sec 90 (with Miressi in 47.83 and Kolesnikov in 47.89), the mark which was the best time of the heats. five years ago in Rio, illustration of the speed of the entry into the field in the Tokyo basin.

# photo2

- Grousset "got scared" -

Maxime Grousset (22 years old), in full progress but author of the 12th time in 48 sec 25, did not show his best face, he who had become the best French performer in history except combinations on the round trip with his 47 sec 52 swam to launch the 4x100 m blue in the final on Monday.

Mehdy Metella is eliminated (48.68, 23rd time).

"I admit that I was a little afraid when I saw my time, admits the young sprinter. We see that we can quickly miss a race."

It's time for the semi-finals on Wednesday morning (3.30am French time), a marathon day for Katie Ledecky, with the finals of the 200m, the 1500m and the 4x200m series, two days after Ariarne Titmus dethroned her over the 400m after a fantastic ascent.

Will the young Australian repeat over 200m?

She set the fastest time in the semi-finals (1: 54.82), the American the third (1: 55.34).

In the morning, the finals gave pride of place to youth.

In the lead, the American Lydia Jacoby, 17 and victorious in the 100m breaststroke (1: 04.95), relegating Lilly King, her compatriot outgoing Olympic champion, to third place.

# photo3

"It's crazy, I was clearly swimming for a medal, but I wasn't expecting gold," said the Alaska swimmer.

# photo4

In the 100m backstroke, Australian Kaylee McKeown (20) won (57.47).

And in the 200m, Briton Tom Dean (21) snatched gold (1: 44.11) from his compatriot, elder and friend Duncan Scott.

© 2021 AFP