By the way, the two swimmers have validated their qualification for the Worlds and the Euro this summer.

Grousset, 22, won in 23 sec 41 on the one way.

He beat Manaudou, 31, by five hundredths.

The two swimmers will have the opportunity to compete again on Saturday in the 50m freestyle, of which Grousset is the title holder.

But during their last confrontation over this distance, last February, it was the older of the two who won.

"We play sports to have rivalries," reacted Manaudou alongside Grousset in the mixed zone.

"It's great to have a swimmer like Max on the side, who swims the same times as me. We race on almost all the meetings."

But the fight between the two almost did not take place, Manaudou brushing the elimination from the series.

"I was a little too confident, I think. Maybe I didn't tell myself enough that it wasn't easy to swim fast every time. I rested a little too much on my laurels," admitted the four-time Olympic medalist.

Thanks to their times, the two swimmers above all ensured the essentials: achieving the minimums for the World Championships in Budapest (June 18-July 3) and the European Championships in Rome (August 11-21).

Florent Manaudou during a series of the 50m butterfly in Limoges, April 5, 2022 Damien MEYER AFP

"It was the main objective of the 50 pap, to validate at least the ticket for the World Championships", declared Grousset.

"It was a little bonus to win a small round against Flo."

Wattel disappointed

No other swimmer passed the minima during this first day of the French Championships.

In the 100m butterfly, her favorite race, Marie Wattel won in the final but was disappointed with her time, 58 sec 61, while the minima were set at 58 sec 33.

"We're not going to lie to each other, it's not terrible," she admitted.

"(There was) very little serenity in my swimming."

Except surprise, the 24-year-old swimmer should still be drafted for the summer meetings thanks to the time she had achieved at the Tokyo Olympics (56 sec 27).

Marie Wattel in the effort in the 100m final of the French Championship in Limoges, April 5, 2022 Damien MEYER AFP

"With 58 seconds, I don't worry anyone. So if it's to go there and not even go through to the semi-finals, I don't know if it will be worth the trip. We'll have to see how I feel in the months that follow. “, she however analyzed.

In the other races, Cyrielle Duhamel was crowned in the 200m medley and Joris Bouchaut in the 400m freestyle.

Carl Aitkaci retained his 100m breaststroke title.

© 2022 AFP