Florine Gaspard (born 28 December 2001) is a Belgian competitive swimmer specializing in sprint breaststroke events. She is the Belgian record holder in the long course and short course 50-metre breaststroke. She placed sixth in the final of the 50-metre breaststroke at the 2021 European Short Course Championships. At the 2022 European Aquatics Championships (long course), she placed eighth in the final of the 50-metre breaststroke. At the World Short Course Championships, she placed eleventh in the semifinals of the 50-metre breaststroke in 2021 and 2022.

Florine Gaspard
Personal information
National teamBelgium Belgium
Born (2001-12-28) 28 December 2001 (age 22)[2]
Bastogne, Belgium
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBreaststroke, Freestyle
ClubCN Marseille[1]

Background edit

Gaspard was born 28 December 2001 in Belgium.[2] In 2022, she relocated from her hometown of Bastogne to Marseille, France to train with CN Marseille leading up to the 2024 Summer Olympics, which are to be held in Paris, France.[1][3]

Career edit

2018–2019 edit

Competing at the 2018 European Junior Swimming Championships, held in July in Helsinki, Finland, when she was 16 years of age, Gaspard placed twentieth in the 50-metre breaststroke with a time of 32.58 seconds, thirty-ninth with a time of 1:12.64 in 100-metre breaststroke, and fortieth in the 200-metre breaststroke with a time of 2:37.73.[4] The following year, as a 17-year-old at the 2019 World University Games, with swimming competition conducted in July at Piscina Felice Scandone in Naples, Italy, she placed eighteenth in the 50-metre breaststroke with a time of 32.05 seconds, twenty-third in the 200-metre breaststroke with a 2:35.84, and thirty-second in both the 50 metre freestyle, with a time of 26.76 seconds, and the 100-metre breaststroke with a time of 1:11.79.[5] Later in the year, at her first short course senior continental-scale Championships, the 2019 European Short Course Championships in December in Glasgow, Scotland when she was 18 years old, she placed twentieth in the 50-metre breaststroke with a 30.74, thirtieth in the 100-metre breaststroke with a 1:07.11, and thirty-ninth in the 50-metre freestyle with a time of 25.59 seconds.[6]

2021 edit

2021 European Short Course Championships edit

On day one, 2 November, of the 2021 European Short Course Championships conducted at the Palace of Water Sports in Kazan, Russia, Gaspard placed twelfth in the semifinals of the 100-metre breaststroke with a personal best time of 1:05.58.[7][8] Four days later, in the semifinals of the 50-metre breaststroke, she set her first Begian record with a personal best time of 29.70 seconds and advanced to the final ranking fourth.[8][9] Day six of six, she competed in the first international championships final of her career, tying Klara Thormalm of Sweden for sixth-place in the final of the 50-metre breaststroke with a time of 30.17 seconds, which was 0.37 seconds behind bronze medalist Nika Godun of Russia.[7][8]

Following her success at the European Short Course Championships, Gaspard competed at the long course 2021 French Winter National Championships in Montpellier, France, setting a new Belgian record in the 50-metre breaststroke with a personal best time of 30.56 seconds, which was 0.19 seconds faster than the former record of 30.75 seconds set by Fanny Lecluyse in 2015.[9][10]

2021 World Short Course Championships edit

The first day of the 2021 World Short Course Championships, contested starting 16 December at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Gaspard tied Molly Renshaw of Great Britain for sixteenth-place in the preliminaries of the 50-metre breaststroke with a time of 30.45 seconds, which meant the two swimmers would need to compete in a swim-off to determine which one got to compete in the semifinals.[11][12] In the swim-off, she lowered her time to 30.11 seconds, finishing 0.22 seconds ahead of Molly Renshaw to qualify for her first World Championships semifinal.[11][13] Later in the day, in the evening semifinals session, she placed eleventh with a time of 30.10 seconds.[14] Three days after that, she did not start competition in the 100-metre breaststroke.[15]

2022 edit

At the long course 2022 Belgian National Championships, held in April in Antwerp, Gaspard won three gold medals and national titles, the first in the 50-metre breaststroke and the second two in the 50-metre freestyle, with a personal best time of 25.80 seconds, and the 100-metre breaststroke with a time of 1:08.17.[16][17][18]

2022 World Aquatics Championships edit

Gaspard was named to the Team Belgium roster for the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, held starting in June at Danube Arena in Budapest, Hungary, in both sprint breaststroke events, the 50-metre breaststroke and the 100-metre breaststroke.[19] It marked her first FINA World Aquatics Championships.[20] In her first event, the 100-metre breaststroke starting on day two of pool swimming competition, she placed twenty-sixth overall with a time of 1:09.22.[21][22] Five days later, in the preliminaries of the 50-metre breaststroke, her second and final event, she placed seventeenth with a time of 31.10 seconds, which was 1.33 seconds behind the first-ranked swimmer in the preliminary heats Lara van Niekerk of South Africa.[23][24]

2022 European Aquatics Championships edit

In August, Gaspard competed at her first LEN European Aquatics Championships, the 2022 European Aquatics Championships with pool swimming competition at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy.[20] For her first event, the 100-metre breaststroke, she placed twenty-third in the preliminary heats with a time of 1:09.45 and did not qualify for the semifinals.[25] Four days later, on the morning of 16 August, she ranked ninth in the preliminary heats of the 50-metre breaststroke with a time of 30.94 seconds and qualified for the semifinals.[26][27] Later in the day, she achieved a 30.86 in the semifinals, qualifying for her first final at a LEN European Aquatics Championships and second final at a European Championships ranking sixth overall.[28][29][30] The following day, she placed eighth in the final with a time of 31.46 seconds.[31][32][33]

2022 Swimming World Cup edit

For the 2022 FINA Swimming World Cup stop held in Berlin, Germany, Gaspard was one of ten athletes from CN Marseille who competed at the stop, entering to compete in five events, the 50-metre freestyle, 50-metre breaststroke, 100-metre breaststroke, 50-metre butterfly, and 100-metre individual medley.[34] The first day of competition, 21 October, she achieved a placing of thirty-seventh in the 50-metre freestyle with a time of 25.60 seconds and a rank of fifteenth in the preliminaries of the 100-metre individual medley with a time of 1:00.96.[35][36] Day two of three, she placed twenty-seventh in the 50-metre butterfly with a time of 26.96 seconds for her first event of the day, followed up by a twentieth-place in the 100-metre breaststroke with a time of 1:07.38.[36] On the morning of day three, she qualified for the final of the 50-metre breaststroke with a rank of eighth and time of 30.48 seconds in the preliminary heats.[37] In the evening final, she placed fourth with a time of 30.05 seconds, which was 0.02 seconds behind bronze medalist Anastasia Gorbenko of Israel and 1.45 seconds behind gold medalist Rūta Meilutytė of Lithuania.[38][39]

2022 World Short Course Championships edit

The morning of day two of the 2022 World Short Course Championships, held in December in Melbourne, Australia, Gaspard placed nineteenth in the 100 metre breaststroke with a near personal best time of 1:05.49, which was 0.04 seconds off her personal best time of 1:05.45.[40][41][42] For the preliminaries of her second of two events, the 50 metre breaststroke beginning on day five, she achieved a time of 29.79 seconds and qualified for the semifinals ranking ninth overall.[42][43][44] In the semifinals, she placed eleventh overall with a time of 29.98 seconds and did not advance to the final.[42][45][46][47]

2023 edit

2023 Belgian Championships
  50 m breaststroke 30.53 (NR)
  100 m breaststroke 1:07.95

At the 2023 Mediterranean Open Meet, conducted in March in long course metres in Marseille, France, Gaspard won the silver medal in the 100-metre breaststroke with a time of 1:08.02 and achieved a personal best time of 57.18 seconds in the 100-metre freestyle.[48][49] She entered to compete in two individual events, the 50-metre breaststroke and 100-metre breaststroke, at the 2023 Belgian Open Championships in April.[50] In the preliminaries of the 50-metre breaststroke on day one, 21 April, she ranked first with a 30.65 and qualified for the evening final.[51] In the evening final, she won the national title with a Belgian record, personal best, and 2023 World Aquatics Championships qualifying time of 30.53 seconds.[52][53][54] The following morning, she ranked first and qualified for the final of the 100-metre breaststroke with a 1:08.87 in the preliminaries.[55] In the evening final, she won the national title with a time of 1:07.95.[56]

Two months later, Gaspard won the gold medal in the 100 metre breaststroke at the 2023 French Elite Championships in Rennes, France, finishing in a personal best and 2023 World Aquatics Championships qualifying time of 1:07.21.[57]

On 15 December Gaspard broke twice the national record for 50 metres freestyle and with a best of 24.65s qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[58]

International championships (50 m) edit

Meet 50 freestyle 50 breaststroke 100 breaststroke 200 breaststroke
Junior level
EJC 2018 (age: 16) 20th (32.58) 39th (1:12.64) 40th (2:37.73)
Senior level
WUG 2019 (age: 17) 32nd (26.76) 18th (32.05) 32nd (1:11.79) 23rd (2:35.84)
WC 2022 (age: 20) 17th (31.10) 26th (1:09.22)
EC 2022 (age: 20) 8th (31.46) 23rd (1:09.45)

International championships (25 m) edit

Meet 50 freestyle 50 breaststroke 100 breaststroke
EC 2019 (age: 17) 39th (25.59) 20th (30.74) 30th (1:07.11)
EC 2021 (age: 19) 6th (30.17) 12th (1:05.58)
WC 2021 (age: 19) 11th (30.10) DNS
WC 2022 (age: 20) 11th (29.98) 19th (1:05.49)

Personal best times edit

Long course metres (50 m pool) edit

Event Time Meet Location Date Notes Ref
50 m freestyle 24.65 Meeting National des Hortillons Amiens, France 15 December 2023 NR
50 m breaststroke 30.53 2023 Belgian Open Championships Antwerp 21 April 2023 NR [52]
100 m breaststroke 1:07.21 2023 French Elite Championships Rennes, France 14 June 2023 [57]
Legend: NRBelgian record;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; – en route to final mark; tt – time trial

Short course metres (25 m pool) edit

Event Time Meet Location Date Notes Ref
50 m breaststroke 29.70 sf 2021 European Short Course Championships Kazan, Russia 6 November 2021 NR [8][9]
100 m breaststroke 1:05.45 2022 French Elite Championships Chartres, France 4 November 2022 [2]
Legend: NRBelgian record;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; – en route to final mark; tt – time trial

National records edit

Long course metres (50 m pool) edit

No. Event Time Meet Location Date Status Ref
1 50 m breaststroke 30.56 2021 French Winter National Championships Montpellier, France 9 December 2021 Former [9][10]
2 50 m breaststroke (2) 30.53 2023 Belgian Open Championships Antwerp 21 April 2023 Current [52][53][54]

Short course metres (25 m pool) edit

No. Event Time Meet Location Date Status Ref
1 50 m breaststroke 29.70 sf 2021 European Short Course Championships Kazan, Russia 6 November 2021 Current [8][9]

Awards and honours edit

  • Sports Merit of Bastogne, individual category: 2022[1]
  • Provincial Sports Merit: 2022 (#4)[59]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Lefevre, Thierry (13 September 2022). "La nageuse Florine Gaspard remporte le mérite sportif de Bastogne" (in French). L'Avenir. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Florine Gaspard". FINA. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  3. ^ Deprez, Pierre (12 March 2022). "Florine Gaspard : De Bastogne à Paris à la nage, "parce que maman avait la phobie de l'eau"" (in French). RTBF. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  4. ^ LEN (8 July 2018). "2018 Helsinki LEN European Junior Championships Swimming: Results Book". Microplus Informatica. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  5. ^ FISU (10 July 2019). "Napoli 2019 30th Summer Universiade: Swimming Results Book". Microplus Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  6. ^ LEN (8 December 2019). "Glasgow LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019: Results Book". Microplus Informatica. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  7. ^ a b LEN (7 November 2021). "2021 European Short Course Swimming Championships Kazan (RUS): Complete Results Book". Microplus Informatica. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e Vande Weyer, Philippe (8 November 2021). "Natation: peuchère, revoilà Florine Gaspard!" (in French). Le Soir. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Natation : Florine Gaspard bat le record de Belgique du 50 m brasse" (in French). RTBF. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  10. ^ a b French Swimming Federation (9 December 2021). "Championnats de France Elite Hiver 2021 - 50 m: Résultats 50 Brasse Dames" (in French). liveffn.com. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Mondiaux en petit bassin: Fanny Lecluyse et Florine Gaspard se qualifient pour les demi-finals du 50 m brasse" (in French). Le Soir. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  12. ^ FINA (16 December 2021). "15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Abu Dhabi (UAE): Women's 50m Breaststroke Heats Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  13. ^ FINA (16 December 2021). "15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Abu Dhabi (UAE): Women's 50m Breaststroke Results". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  14. ^ FINA (16 December 2021). "15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Abu Dhabi (UAE): Women's 50m Breaststroke Semifinals Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  15. ^ FINA (19 December 2021). "15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Abu Dhabi (UAE): Women's 100m Breaststroke Heats Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Championnats de Belgique de natation – Deux titres supplémentaires pour Florine Gaspard" (in French). bx1.be. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  17. ^ "BK zwemmen: Florine Gaspard blinkt palmares op met twee extra titels" (in Dutch). Gazet van Antwerpen. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Triplé pour Gaspard, ticket européen pour Hanquet" (in French). L'Avenir. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  19. ^ Monbaillu, Laurent (18 June 2022). "Cinq Belges en action aux Mondiaux de natation à Budapest" (in French). La Dernière Heure. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  20. ^ a b Jonette, Daniel (3 August 2022). "L'objectif de Florine Gaspard avant l'Euro de natation : laisser son stress au vestiaire" (in French). La Dernière Heure. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  21. ^ FINA (19 June 2022). "19th FINA World Championships Budapest (HUN): Women's 100m Breaststroke Heats Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  22. ^ "La Bastognarde Florine Gaspard sortie en série du 100 m brasse au Mondial" (in French). L'Avenir. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  23. ^ FINA (24 June 2022). "19th FINA World Championships Budapest (HUN): Women's 50m Breaststroke Heats Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Florine Gaspard rate la demi-finale mondiale pour une place" (in French). L'Avenir. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  25. ^ LEN (12 August 2022). "European Aquatics Championships Roma 2022: Results 100m Breaststroke Women Preliminary". Microplus. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  26. ^ LEN (16 August 2022). "European Aquatics Championships Roma 2022: Results 50m Breaststroke Women Preliminary". Microplus. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  27. ^ "Euro de natation: Florine Gaspard qualifée pour les demies du 50 mètres brasse" (in French). L'Avenir. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  28. ^ LEN (16 August 2022). "European Aquatics Championships Roma 2022: Results 50m Breaststroke Women Semi-Final". Microplus. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  29. ^ "Euro de natation: Florine Gaspard en finale du 50 m brasse" (in French). La Dernière Heure. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Sterke Florine Gaspard plaatst zich voor finale op 50m schoolslag" (in Dutch). Sporza. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  31. ^ LEN (17 August 2022). "European Aquatics Championships Roma 2022: Results 50m Breaststroke Women Final". Microplus. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  32. ^ "Valentine Dumont wordt 7e in finale 400m vrij, Gaspard 8e op 50m schoolslag" (in Dutch). Sporza. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  33. ^ Jonette, Daniel (18 August 2022). "Florine Gaspard, 8e Européenne sur 50 m brasse" (in French). L'Avenir. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Cercle des Nageurs : Les nageurs présents à Berlin" (in French). lemeridional.com. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  35. ^ "Iman Avdić završila i drugi nastup na Svjetskom kupu u Berlinu" (in Bosnian). sport1.oslobodjenje.ba. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  36. ^ a b FINA (23 October 2022). "FINA Swimming World Cup 2022: Berlin (GER): Results Book". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  37. ^ FINA (23 October 2022). "FINA Swimming World Cup 2022: Berlin (GER): Women's 50m Breaststroke Heats Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  38. ^ FINA (23 October 2022). "FINA Swimming World Cup 2022: Berlin (GER): Women's 50m Breaststroke Final Results". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  39. ^ "Florine Gaspard et Valentine Dumont au pied du podium à Berlin en Coupe du monde de natation" (in French). RTBF. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  40. ^ FINA (14 December 2022). "16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) Melbourne (AUS): Women's 100m Breaststroke Heats Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  41. ^ "Mondiaux de natation en petit bassin : Valentine Dumont sortie en séries sur le 100m nage libre, Florine Gaspard sur 100m brasse" (in French). RTBF. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  42. ^ a b c "Pas de finale mondiale pour Florine Gaspard" (in French). L'Avenir. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  43. ^ FINA (17 December 2022). "16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) Melbourne (AUS): Women's 50m Breaststroke Heats Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  44. ^ Belga (17 December 2022). "Fleur Vermeiren en Florine Gaspard plaatsen zich voor halve finales 50 meter schoolslag op het WK zwemmen kortebaan" (in Dutch). Proximus. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  45. ^ FINA (17 December 2022). "16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) Melbourne (AUS): Women's 50m Breaststroke Semifinals Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  46. ^ Belga (17 December 2022). "Florine Gaspard et Fleur Vermeiren éliminées en demi-finales sur 50m brasse" (in French). RTL. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  47. ^ Monbaillu, Laurent (17 December 2022). "Mondiaux en petit bassin : Florine Gaspard confirme sa 11e place mondiale en 50m brasse" (in French). La Dernière Heure. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  48. ^ Kaufman, Sophie (12 March 2023). "Sarah Sjostrom Clocks 25.25 50 Fly For Fastest Time in the World This Season". SwimSwam. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  49. ^ Jonette, Daniel (13 March 2023). "Un record personnel pour Gaspard" (in French). L'Avenir. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  50. ^ "Open Belgian Swimming Championships 2023: Entries". Royal Belgian Swimming Federation. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  51. ^ "Open Belgian Swimming Championships 2023: Event 9 Women, 50m Breaststroke Open". toptime.be. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  52. ^ a b c "Open Belgian Swimming Championships 2023: Event 9 Women, 50m Breaststroke Open Results Finals". toptime.be. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  53. ^ a b Belga (21 April 2023). "Florine Gaspard améliore de 3 centièmes son record de Belgique du 50m brasse en 30.53" (in French). RTL. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  54. ^ a b "Nouveau record de Belgique pour Florine Gaspard, qualifiée pour le Mondial au Japon" (in French). L'Avenir. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  55. ^ "Open Belgian Swimming Championships 2023: Event 16 Women, 100m Breaststroke Open Results Prelim". toptime.be. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  56. ^ "Open Belgian Swimming Championships 2023: Event 16 Women, 100m Breaststroke Open Results Finals". toptime.be. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  57. ^ a b "Championnats de France ELITE - 50 m - 2023: 100 Brasse Dames" (in French). liveffn.com. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  58. ^ "Nouveau record de Belgique sur 50m libre pour Florine Gaspard, qui assure le minimum olympique" (in French). 15 December 2013.
  59. ^ "Mérite sportif provincial: un tiercé Watrin – De Lie – Loyola" (in French). L'Avenir. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2023.

External links edit