La consecration for Marie Wattel. The young athlete became vice-world champion in the 100m butterfly, Sunday June 19 in Budapest, and brings France its second medal of these Worlds after Léon Marchand’s gold on Saturday in the 400m medley. European champion in the distance in 2020, she won silver in 56 seconds 14, behind the American Torri Huske who won in 55 seconds 64. Chinese Zhang Yufei completes the podium.
READ ALSOSwimming: Frenchman Léon Marchand world champion in the 400 meter medley
In the French team since he was 16
“Frankly, I didn’t believe it at all,” she admitted after her race. “When I saw my half, I said to myself that I did not have much margin. So I was trying not to get carried away […] In the end, the last 15-20 meters, I put everything. I put all my rage of the last years and it pays off! “In addition to her medal, she offered herself a new personal best and improved her own French record.
Very moved as often, Wattel, 6e in the final of the Tokyo Olympics last year, measured the progress made since its debut. “There are a lot of emotions,” she breathed between sobs. “I made my first French team, I was 16 years old. I make my first medal (world) at 25 years old in individual. Lots of doubts, lots of failures and very hard times… it feels good. »