Tunisian Olympic champion Ayoub Hafnaoui (3’47”13) was untouchable this Thursday in Barcelona, but Frenchman Joris Bouchaut took a fine second place (3’49”47) in the 400m NL. A few minutes earlier, it was Antoine Herlem who, in the 200m backstroke, got on the box taking third place (in 2’00”24) behind the Italian Lorenzo Mora (1’59”45) and Briton Brodie Williams (2’00”03). The second Frenchman entered over the distance, Merlin Ficher took 5th place (2’00”42).
Marie Wattel, in the 100m butterfly, finished 6th with a time of 59”57, far from Louise Hansson, victorious in 57”52. Charlotte Bonnet only set the 7th fastest time in a 200 NL (1’59”14) dominated by Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, long on the basis of the world record before releasing in the last fifty meters (1’55 ”56).
On Thursday, Florent Manaudou won the 50m with his best time of the year. Mélanie Henique had won the 50m butterfly in 25”67 ahead of the Japanese Rikako Ikee and the Dutch Maaike de Waard.