Actus; Mon Histoire; Je Like; Contact; Plongez avec moi; Pimiento Agency Anode et Cathode Anode et Cathode ""It's not the same kind of fun as handball: there are no balls, no friends, no goals," he replies, "but there is more fun than in my previous [swimming] career. “This winter, the goal is lots of racing and get back the race habit through swimming with friends, competing against the best. Said Manaudou: “I’m 29 …I’ve seen another side of life. I also have a direct competitor (Proud). We are four Olympic champions there. I just need to be careful not to overdo the travel fatigue.”Manaudou’s time in handball had helped him to rejuvenate his love of swimming: “I was able to live my dream of playing in division 2 while training with the pros. The 29-year-old enters the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke as a gold-medal shot for France. London 2012 Olympic champion Florent Manaudou has been back in the pool for over a year and rediscovered his joy for swimming. "The Frenchman will have turned 30 by the time the Olympics in Tokyo take place in 2021.Aged 35, the American won a memorable Olympic final ahead of Manaudou in second place.“I had the sensation that I was flying above the water, not in terms of speed, but it was a thrill, I don't feel tense, it feels good. Right now, I’m trying to do the things that will help me to beat them.”Florent Manaudou – back in the aquatic arena Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia D’Alberto/LaPresseIn the short-course pool, Florent Manaudou still holds World records in the 50m freestyle (20.26, 2014 World s/c Championships for gold) and 50 back (22.22, same event as the freestyle record).The arrival of the ISL had also drawn him back to the pool, he told Swimming World on League tour in October and November:He might have turned professional in his new sport but then the old one and the water called him back to be a pro in another realm at the dawn of a new Pro-Team era in the pool.In an interview with La Provence, Manaudou said that his comeback was geared to Tokyo 2020.
How far can swim star Florent Manaudou go as a handball player? I need to see my friends, my family and enjoy the cool stuff of life. It’s like the club, a team competition. "It's different, more like a show. Manaudou also competed in the 50-meter butterfly and finished 8th with a time of 23.35.
But he's now back in his element, training for Tokyo 2020, and says there's life after the Olympics for his swimming career - whether he wins or not. "But this competition allows him to get back into the process, competing in the heats, semi-finals and finals as at the Games. After the Rio Olympics in 2016, Manaudou fell out of love with swimming and switched sports to play handball.
I also have the opportunity to rest a lot out there. In addition, we can race with the best all year round … Swimming is an old sport, it is not easy to innovate: there are two walls, swimmers, a timing pad – and it’s hard. In the 50-meter freestyle, Manaudou lead the heats and semifinals with times of 21.72 and 21.37. ""When you start a week, if you haven't decompressed on the weekend, you won't perform well in the water. Again, it’s not ideal to perform, but I’m not here for that. "Friday brought silver in the 50m freestyle, and Saturday a fifth place in the final of the 50m butterfly with a bronze medal in the 4x50m mixed relay.A bronze and a silver isn't a bad return after three years out, but it isn't enough for the ultra-competitive Manaudou.The 29-year-old reportedly has previously indulged in 'oreos for breakfast, and a beer at noon to wash down the chips covered in mayonnaise'.Manaudou swam for the Energy Standard team, playing an integral part in their 2019 title win.Before the lockdown, he was back training, but with a different mindset and a renewed approach. He will also stand up with mates in at least four relays, his hefty presence – 1.99m, 99 kg – in any sprint bout like a Glaswegian kiss delivered with technical precision in a pub brawl.“I need to change, to freshen up a bit.
For me, anyway. Swimming is not the most fun sport in the world, but its’ good for use to be part of a team doing new things, it’s nice for us. But I excelled in swimming. I think I have enough experience to take the good parts of everyone.
For now, it works well. "Even if the diet is a little eccentric, he seems to be enjoying his swimming a lot more after his return to the pool.
I need to get away, have a drink with my friends.
That allowed me to freshen up, get away from the tumult of journalists. Even in terms of skills, I like to draw from everywhere. It is also the first year. So, inevitably, burnout is less present." Inscription à la newsletter. I prefer to play handball than swim: it’s more fun. I think I wasn’t bad at handball but it’s complicated to make up for 15 years without playing.”Two and a half years of playing handball helped Manaudou “realise I missed the water and what I was best at doing”, he said on his return to swimming.”Returning home after intensive periods of training was also critical.