The Frenchman returned to his new world title during the 100m butterfly this Saturday in Singapore, which he followed by a bronze medal during the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay.
Maxime, what is your feeling after an evening punctuated by a world title on the 100m butterfly and a bronze medal on the 4x100m mixed freesty relay?
Maximum Greatly: It’s just crazy! I wanted to hit a big blow on the 100m Pap ‘. I felt very well in series and half yesterday, but this morning, when I got up, I felt even better. I was well rested, I slept serenely. I wanted to take a very nice race. Afterwards, I can’t really explain why. Just, I didn’t feel stress, just a lot of energy. I knew I was in good shape, ready for what was waiting for me in the evening.
There is this time, 49”62, the third faster in history …
That too it’s crazy! (laughs) I wanted to break this 50 second barrier one day. I did it quite strongly. I thought I could do 49”9, even 49”8, but 49”6, honestly, it seemed out of reach.
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How do you analyze this final?
I was very well on the first 50. On the other hand, the second half of the race, I did it more in mind. I was starting to crack a little at the end. I saw that Noah (Ponti) returned to me, but at the same time I told myself that he still had to travel a few meters to do it and that it was not obvious either.
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World swimming: Maxime Grousset, a solid gold butterfly
What does this title represent for you?
This is my second on the 100m Pap ‘(two years after Fukuoka). This means that I assumed my status here in Singapore. Afterwards, hot, I would find it difficult to analyze more. I can just say that I am very proud.
On this swimming of the butterfly, we feel completely in control …
Yes, it’s true. I feel this swim. I didn’t need to tame it, it was instinctively. I feel good in a butterfly. And then I am a swimmer who has power and swimming the butterfly, it allows me to channel this power.
Can you tell us about the little hour that has passed between your title on the 100m butterfly, then the podium and finally the relay?
I felt very well for warm -up, better than yesterday. Before the 100m Pap ‘, Michel (Christian) gave me some advice, which he had already told me but he wanted it to be well rooted. He told me to let myself go on the first 50. Suddenly, I had no holding and I went for it. Behind, I was able to recover a little before the podium. And then there, it was the most difficult moment because five minutes after the Marseillaise, I find myself behind the plot, focus on the 100m crawl that I had to perform for the relay. I think it was seen on my performance, even if the time remains very correct for a 100m. But it was harder than when I swam individually.
And this bronze medal on arrival, what does you inspire?
She makes me happy. It is good for the collective. It’s so different to be able to share it. It was not I who made the performance. I did not make a huge 100m but behind, we had Yann (Le Goff) who swam Fort, then Marie (Wattel) and Beryl (Gasteldello) did the same. Beryl, at the end, I thought we were behind the Italians but then, she touched the wall perfectly. And thank you to young people (Rafael Léte-Damers and Albane Cachot) who swam this morning in series and who made this possible. The team becomes stronger and stronger.
