For the first time in his career, Freddy Mayala took part in the Olympic Games in Paris. Although he beat his personal best in the 50m freestyle on Thursday, August 1, 2024, the swimmer from Congo-Brazzaville was unable to make it among the 16 best times qualified for the semi-finals. He is still satisfied with his performance and is already thinking about the next Games in Los Angeles.
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From our special correspondent at La Défense Arena,
A few hours after the grandiose evening of July 31, where Leon Marchand has splashed the world of his immense talent, there was still a lot of passion this August 1st in the morning at the Olympic swimming pool in Nanterre. Even for series, the stands are filled with enthusiastic supporters, a sign that the swimming events of these JO 2024 are among the most followed events.
Moreover, the French national hero was already back for the 200m medley heats, his next and final challenge in these Paris Games. The other French swimming star, Florent Manaudou, also swam for the first time in these Olympics with the 50m freestyle heats.
Less well-known than the 2012 French Olympic champion, Freddy Mayala also took part in the series of the single straight at La Défense Arena. The Congolese did not have the same ambitions as Manaudou of course. However, he had some personal challenges to overcome in the Nanterre swimming pool.
” I could have done more »
Starting from lane 2 in the second series, the 24-year-old swimmer completed his 50m in second position, behind Marshallese Philip Kinono, with a time of 27”52. Not enough to secure a place in the Top 16 of the series: Frenchman Maxime Grousset took the last qualifying ticket with a time of 21”94. Freddy Mayala therefore posted the 65th time of the morning out of 73 competitors.
Just after he came out of the water, we found a swimmer who was still a little disoriented. Congratulations for his clearly beaten personal record – 28”61 at the Fukuoka World Swimming Championships in July 2023 – were not enough, the Congolese needed to be clearly told his new best time to be convinced of his performance. Satisfaction was then mixed with a touch of disappointment for a boy who wants to be ambitious:
” My personal record has been beaten, but the goal was to do in the 26′. Despite everything, arriving in the 27′ and beating the personal record, that makes me happy. »
“ The preparation was not easy, but we gave our all to achieve this result. “, continued Freddy Mayala, mentioning in passing the difficulties of accessing the swimming pool to train during his preparation. ” If I could, I could have done more than that. “, does he think.
These Olympic Games demonstrate that, for a very large majority of swimmers on the African continent, except in South Africa, the gap with the world’s elite remains significant. They are not competing on equal terms, observes Mayala, who would like to ” have the possibility of being offered scholarships or training camps “. ” It could boost me, give me more confidence ” he insists.
In the meantime, Freddy Mayala will continue to work, in the hope of gradually lowering his time and doing even better in four years in Los Angeles. I want to give my best and proudly represent the country at the upcoming Olympic Games. ” says the swimmer. The appointment is made.
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