Agnel: “For the Olympic trials, it’s pretty dramatic” – Eurosport.fr

         Yannick Agnel knew this day Wednesday would be complicated for him. He probably even considered the possibility of non-qualification for the Olympic Games. But he never could have imagined such a preposterous scenario and, frankly, too cruel for him. Declared third in a race whose pictures clearly show that he took the second place, he will not defend his Olympic title in Rio in 200 meters freestyle.
       

         Second place would have allowed him to retain a hope of being rescued, although he had not reached the minimum timepieces. The third, behind Jeremy Stravius ​​POTHAIN and Jordan, condemned definitively. Wednesday night, he had difficulty with the course of events. “ For I am the second, it was clear , lamented Agnel. All the people I met told me that I had obviously touched second rather widely and that there was no doubt. I think the word. and I had the feeling of having touched second . ”
       

The same problem in the morning, already

         After filing an appeal, the Nîmois could regain hope, but his request was eventually rejected on the grounds that the video, unofficial, can be a factor to determine the appeal. The reigning Olympic champion should he badly hit the wall plate at the time of arrival? He does not believe it for a second. “ No, I normally key he assured in an interview with our colleagues Bein Sport. For Olympic trials, it’s pretty dramatic. In my career, I have always hit it right. at the Olympic Games, world championships, Europe, France, I never had this problem. and then it happens twice in 24 hours . ”
       

         In less than 24 hours, even since this problem had actually already laid that morning, in the playoffs the 200. “ I took it with a smile this morning (Wednesday), a little tonight least when it comes to qualifying for the Olympic Games “, he regretted while remaining very quiet. “ I do not know what to say, who is the culprit? “, if he asked, noting that other swimmers had known “ the various problems and varied plate “.
       

Another possible remedy?

         After that crazy night, the swimmer asked to be received by President of the French federation. “ It will be” has assured Francis Luyce, said the president. According to him, “ an appeal is still possible ” to Nimes. This possible use could be tabled “ European Swimming League or the International Federation ,” said Luyce, without further details.
       

         Meanwhile, for Yannick Agnel, this is obviously a huge blow. He had risked everything in the final starting soon. To 50 meters, he even fired with one hundredth ahead of time the world record. But he could not hold. “ I would have liked to swim faster but I did the maximum today ,” said he said. Agnel would have liked not having to blame but himself. Failure would have been hard to swallow, but acceptable. There, disappointment has good reason to be tinged with some anger. Even cold.