Missy Franklin, Alia Atkinson, Chad Le Clos, Camille Lacourt and Florent Manaudou join a press conference this Friday evening. Ryan Lochte, who entered the meet in several events, was scheduled to be at the media conference but was not there. Lochte is no longer listed in the psych sheet, but he is listed at the bottom of the page under the “Entry List By NOC” section.
Ryan Lochte was on the start lists with a full schedule, considering the Wrold Cup meets follow just a two-day format. He was entered in the 100m/200m backstroke, 200m IM/400m IM and the 200m freestyle but is no longer listed in the psych sheet on Omega’s site.
Chad Le Clos, who won the tour several times during the few last years, is looking forward racing against so many world class swimmers in the coming days. The World Cup changed from short to long course this year in preparation for the Olympics next summer.
Florent Manaudou is very pleased that a World Cup stop takes place in France and that so many international swim stars will start in his home country. His teammate Camille Lacourt supported his statement and said that he likes the high level of the World Cup meets – “It is never easy to win a race at a World Cup stop.” he thought.
Franklin said in the press conference that she wants to swim more world cup meets. She wasn’t able to attend the series before because of her college duties. But having turned pro a few months ago she now has more time because she left the college and she now is allowed also can keep the prize money. Missy’s only appearance at a World Cup was in 2011 in Berlin – when she set the first short course world record of her young career in the 200 m backstroke. In a short personal interview, Missy said that she hasn’t decided yet where she will prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games. At the moment, she is back in Colorado and trains with her longtime coach Todd Schmitz. She is missing her college friends and teammates but of course she loves being home with her parents.
Last year she suffered a back injury, during the Pan Pacific Games in Australia. That was the first serious health setback that Missy had to cope with in her career and she stated that, even though she is feeling very well again, the injury is often on her mind.