LIVE. Swimming at the 2024 Olympics: Marchand and Manaudou make it to the final, Grousset withdraws, almost perfect evening

Florent Manaudou in the 50m freestyle and Léon Marchand in the 200m 4  swimmers have composted their tickets for the final. Maxime Grousset, 3rd in his semi-final, withdrew from the 50m final so as not to compromise his chances in the 100m butterfly

L' essential

• Florent Manaudou and Maxime Grousset had a date with the semi-finals of the 50m freestyle this Thursday evening. 16th time in the series, Maxime Grousset finished 3rd in his semi-final in 21,60. Officially qualified, the New Caledonian declared his preference forfeit the final to focus on the 100m butterfly. For his part, Florent Manaudou struggled, but also qualified with the 8th time in 21''64. On the other hand, Léon Marchand was easy on the 200m medley to go to the final.
• In the 200m backstroke final, Mewen Tomac finished in 4th place, a little bit of the bronze medal while Pauline Mahieu and Emma Terebo do not go through to the final of the 200m backstroke.
• Follow all the finals live

Live

22:41 – Have a good evening

Thank you for following this evening of swimming with us. See you tomorrow morning for the rest of the events.

22:30 – Summary of the evening

Once again, it was Léon Marchand who distinguished himself best among the French during this evening swimming session. The Toulousain qualified brilliantly for the 200m medley final, finishing first in his heat ahead of Seto in 1:56:31. Despite the fatigue that is starting to show, the triple Olympic champion will be the big favorite tomorrow in the final.

They should have been two, there will only be one Frenchman in the 50m freestyle final. Manaudou, 8th best time in the semi-finals (21,64) will not be accompanied by Maxime Grousset. The New Caledonian finished 3rd in his series in 21,60 but he has withdrawn from the final tomorrow. Maxime prefers to focus on the 100m butterfly, a distance in which he is world champion.

Mewen Tomac, fourth in the 200m backstroke final, will probably have some regrets about his start to the race. The Frenchman finished just off the podium in a race won by the Hungarian Kos ahead of the Greek Christou.

The two small disappointments of the evening came from the girls' side. Emma Terebo and Pauline Mahieu, respectively 4th and 5th in their semi-final, were unable to reach the final of the 200m backstroke. This was the objective of the two swimmers and the task was not out of reach.

Maxime Grousset has just withdrawn from the 50m freestyle final. Third in his semi-final in 21:60, the New Caledonian prefers to focus on the 100m butterfly, a distance in which he is the reigning world champion. Only 30 minutes separate the 50m freestyle final and the 100m butterfly semi-final.

The Australian team wins the Olympic title in the 4 x 200m relay with Titmus (Olympic champion in the 400m freestyle). They beat the American team with Ledecky (7,40,86) in 7,42,34. Australians beat Olympic record.

22:10 – Australia leads 4 x 200 relay

Halfway through the race, the Australian women's team is ahead of China and the United States in this 4 x 200m relay final

22:06 – It wasn't easy

Marchand admitted to France 2 that he is starting to feeling the cumulative fatigue after four days "I wasn't in control at all tonight. I was at full speed from start to finish. I'm starting to feel this fatigue from the series of races. Now I have another challenge tomorrow, the 4 x 200m, I need to rest well"

22:02 – All in control

Largely in the lead after 150 meters, Marchand calmly managed his last 50 meters by saving his efforts according to the speed of the Japanese Seto. We feel a big margin of French over this distance

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Léon Marchand calmly wins in front of the Japanese in 1'56'31. A second and a half better than his time this morning. Marchand is ahead of the Japanese Seto 1'56'&59 and the Canadian Knox in 1'57&76

21:54 – Marchand takes the lead à halfway

Third after fifty meters, Léon Marchand made the difference on the 2nd 50 meters thanks to his ease on the back. He is first at halfway

21:53 – Carson Foster wins the first half

the American Carson Foster wins the first half in 1'56"37. The vice world champion beats the British Scott 1'56'49 and the Chinese Wang 1'56'54

21:49 – Scott favorite of the first semi-final

The Scot Duncan Scott is the big favorite of the first semi-final ahead of the Italian Razetti and the Chinese Wang

21:44 – Place in the semi-finals 200m 4 swims

It's time for the semi-finals of the 200m medley, as a reminder Léon Marchand is in the second half with the Japanese Seto

21:37 – Kos on the podium

The Hungarian Kos climbs to the top step of the podium to be offered the first Olympic gold medal of his career (200m backstroke). The junior record holder in the specialty is only 21 years old

After the second semi-final won by Kaylée McKeown in 2'07'57, the two French swimmers are therefore fixed. They will not go through to the final, Terebo has the 9th best time in the semis, while Mahieu is 11th. A little disappointment for the two French swimmers.

21:27 – Kaylee McKeown wants to reassure herself

The big favourite in the 200m backstroke, Australian Kaylee McKeown will certainly have to be faster than this morning in the heats, where she managed his efforts in finishing third

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When are the Olympic swimming events held ?

The swimming events will begin on Saturday, July 27, with the first medals awarded in the evening, with the finals of the 400 meters and the 4x100m freestyle. The tests will last nine days, until Sunday, August 4.

Where the tests will take place?

The pool swimming events will take place at the Paris Défense Arena in Nanterre. The open water swimming will be in the Seine, with a finish at the Pont Alexandre III. Finally, diving, water polo and artistic swimming will be at the Aquatique center in Saint-Denis. 

• Friday, August 2
• Morning, from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.:
• 100m butterfly – men, heats
• 200m individual medley – women, heats
• 800m freestyle – women, heats
• 4x100m medley relay – mixed, heats
• Evening, of 8:30pm  to 10:30pm:
• 50m freestyle – men, final
• 200m backstroke – women, final
• 200m individual medley – men, final
• 100m Butterfly – Men, Semifinals
• 200m Individual Medley – Women, Semifinals
• Saturday, August 3
• Morning, 11am to 1:00 p.m.:
• 50m freestyle – women, heats
• 1500m freestyle – men, heats
• 4x100m medley relay – men, heats
• 4x100m medley relay – women, heats
• Evening, from 8:30 p.m. 22:30:
• 100m butterfly – men, final
• 50m freestyle – women, semifinals
• 200m individual medley – women, final
• 800m freestyle – women, final
• 4×100 m medley relay – mixed, final
• Sunday August 4 ;t
• Evening, from 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m.:
• 50m freestyle – women, final
• 1500m freestyle – men, final
• 4x100m medley relay – men, final
• Relay 4x100m medley – women, final

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