Olivier gave in after a sprint against the German Florian Wellbrock, Olympic champion in Tokyo last summer, and finished 14 sec 70/100th from the lead but only 3/10th from the bronze.

"We still have to progress, there are (the Olympic Games in) Paris in two years, it shows that I am not dropped," he wanted to be positive.

"But it's a blow. I still have a lot of things to improve to get something at the Games," continued the 26-year-old swimmer, who had already had to settle for fourth place in the 6 km relay. mixed.

Thanks to a time of 1 hour 50 min 56 sec and 80/100, the Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri was crowned world champion of the event ahead of his compatriot Domenico Acerenza.

During the Hungarian competition, Paltrinieri has already been crowned in the final of the 1500m freestyle in the pool.

He also won bronze with his teammates in the 6km relay and silver in the 5km open water.

After a disappointing Olympics, where he only took sixth place, Olivier left Philippe Lucas' training group to join Italy.

He now trains in the same group as the new world champion.

"At least it confirms to me that I am in the right structure and that I have the level," said the Frenchman.

"But there was an opportunity today, I didn't know how to seize it. It's the game, the level is very high."

For his first Worlds, Sacha Velly, 17, took 19th place at 3 min 37 sec 20/100.

"Contract fulfilled" for Muller

In the women's race, Aurélie Muller suffered the same fate as Olivier, finishing fourth in the event won in the sprint by Dutchwoman Sharon Van Rouwendaal.

Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier competes in the men's 10 km open water event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Odaiba Marine Park on August 5, 2021 Oli SCARFF AFP/Archives

In the waters of Lake Lupa in Budapest, Muller, who won the silver medal in the 5 km on Sunday, finished 6 seconds 90/100 from the head.

“A little frustrated obviously”, she reacted.

"But I'm happy to be at this level after the past two years (...) The goal was to make top 8, so contract fulfilled."

At 32, the swimmer from Sarreguemines, who has known various fortunes during her career, is coming back from a long absence in the French open water team after changing coach and training location.

Muller was crowned 10 km world champion in 2015 in Kazan and in 2017, already in Budapest.

At the Worlds-2019, she had experienced terrible disappointment by finishing in 11th place in the 10 km, only one tenth from qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, despite an appeal on the grounds that she would have been embarrassed by the Italian Rachel Bruni.

In 2016, the Frenchwoman was disqualified from her second place obtained in the 10 km of the Rio Games for having hindered this same Bruni on the finish plate.

The other Tricolore engaged, Caroline Jouisse, took 31st place, 4 min 37 sec 80/100 behind the world champion.

Frenchman Axel Reymond, after winning the 25 km open water event during the European Swimming Championships at Lake Lupa in Budakalasz, May 16, 2021 FERENC ISZA AFP / Archives

Jouisse and Velly will both be at the start of the 25 km open water race on Thursday, alongside Lisa Pou and Axel Reymond.

The latter, double reigning world champion, is a favorite in his succession.

© 2022 AFP