Artistic swimming: in Sète, the Laurent-Vidal basin touched by the grace of young French undines

Les ballets libres ont clôturé la journée en beauté dans la catégorie des juniors Élite. MIDI LIBRE – Jérôme Belluire

Les championnats de France N1 et Élite, jeunes et juniors, battent leur plein à Sète.

The national week has started in Fonquerne. And if the rain came to mix with the events this Sunday, these "France" of artistic swimming have already revealed their first champions.

Juniors N1. There was a strong Corsican accent this weekend in Fonquerne. The technical solo actually saw Bastia take the first two places, ahead of Toulouse, as well as the first three (excuse me for saying so) of the 2007-2008 technical solo. And the technical duo was also won by Bastia, ahead of Montpellier Métropole Natation and Lyon.

Moments when time stops in the stands. FREE MIDI – Jérôme Belluire

The Toulouse women also stood out by winning the technical teams (ahead of Marseille and Colomiers) as well as the acrobatic ballet (ahead of Montpellier and the Sirènes de l’Ouest). And in 2007-2008, the free team was won by the Sirènes d’Ornon, ahead of Villefranche en Beaujolais and Pontault-Combault, while Nantes took gold in the acrobatic ballet, ahead of Strasbourg and Toulouse.

Three medals for Sète

On the local side, Sète Natation reached three podiums. Martha Danheels actually took bronze in the free solos before doing it again in the free duo, associated with Charline Brus. And in 2007-2008, Louise Morvan finished third in the free solo.

The show is on, until Sunday June 16. FREE MIDI – Jérôme Belluire

Elite juniors. The Aixoises opened the ball by taking gold in technical duo, ahead of Bastia and Strasbourg. In the technical teams event, victory went to Strasbourg (the Center National de la Relève being out of competition), ahead of Nantes and Bastia.

After the technical solos, where Corbeil-Essonnes, Strasbourg and Bastia shone, this Monday ended with the highly anticipated free ballet event. In other words, in apotheosis. Colomiers notably put stars in the eyes of the spectators, just like the CNR of course. The France of "synchro" has bright days ahead of it.