"Excitement, happiness and joy!"

It is with these words that Emma Terebo described her emotions after her victory.

Mary-Ambre Moluh (g), 2nd, congratulates Emma Terebo, after her victory in the 100m backstroke final at the French Championships, April 6, 2022 in Limoges Damien MEYER AFP

While we were rather expecting the Guyanese Aliana Pigrée, it was the 23-year-old New Caledonian who won the title of champion of France by dominating the final, in 59 sec 64. She was three hundredths ahead of the young Mary-Ambre Moluh, 16, who also achieved the minimums for the international summer meetings.

The two swimmers even came close to Laure Manaudou's old French record, 59 sec 50, dating from 2008.

Emma Terebo, during her victory in the 100m backstroke final, at the French Championships, on April 6, 2022 in Limoges Damien MEYER AFP

Pauline Mahieu took third place ahead of the promising Aliana Pigrée, apparently diminished by an injury contracted in January.

The four backers have in any case offered a strong final with two swimmers under the minute.

"It's nice to see that there are a few people on this race in France. It only pulls us up and allows us to surpass ourselves", analyzed Terebo.

Among men, Yohann Ndoye Brouard, bronze medalist at the European Championships in 2021, won the final in 53 sec 45 ahead of Mewen Tomac (53 sec 72), also qualified for the Worlds and the Euro.

The joy of Ndoye Brouard, French champion in the 100m backstroke in front of Mewen Tomac, on April 6, 2022 in Limoges Damien MEYER AFP

"No limits"

Ndoye Brouard had made an extremely rare error in the semi-finals of the last Olympics when he had hit the wall by missing his turn.

He then explained this big blunder by a degenerative eye disease and now swims with adapted glasses.

"I'm working on it because it's not a trauma, but it's scary to think that I can hit the wall. It would be the second time so it would be a bit of a shame," he said. smiled after his run.

"I try not to think about it too much and with these glasses I think about it even less."

The other qualified of the day for the World and European Championships is called Hadrien Salvan.

The 24-year-old swimmer won the 200m freestyle final in 1 min 46 sec 84. "I never considered myself a very talented swimmer. I always took the time to do things and there they arrive, it's great, I don't set myself a limit", he reacted.

The joy of Hadrien Salvan, after winning his 200m freestyle series at the French Championships, April 6, 2022 in Limoges Damien MEYER AFP

"Two years ago, I was swimming in 1 min 50. Today, I'm doing 1 min 46. I don't plan to stop there," he warned.

At the end of the second day of competition, seven French swimmers have already obtained their tickets for Budapest (Worlds from June 18 to July 3) and Rome (Euro from August 11 to 21).

© 2022 AFP