Yannick Agnel - NOT chosen for the 200m Freestyle at European Championships

I can't figure this one out. For the life of me I thought Agnel did enough in the semi of French Nationals to get selected for the Euros. The French selection policy was already ridiculous but leaving Agnel out of the 200 where he would have challenged for Gold makes zero sense. You have one of the most talented swimmers we've ever seen making his first appearance at a major senior international competition, perfect time to be gathering experience ahead of Worlds in 2011 and London 2012... and you are sitting him in his best event. Way to go Fédération Française de Natation.

(Agnel will swim the 400m Free, 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m Free relays.)

See for yourselves here.

Les sélectionnés aux Championnats d’Europe

17 nageurs :
Yannick Agnel (400 NL, 4x200 NL, 4x100 NL)
Alain Bernard (50 NL, 100 NL, 4x100 NL)
Frédérick Bousquet (50 papillon, 50 NL)
Hugues Duboscq (100 brasse, 200 brasse)
Sébastien Fraysse (400 NL)
Fabien Gilot (50 NL, 4x100 NL)
Antton Haramboure (4x200 NL)
Camille Lacourt (50 dos, 100 dos)
Clément Lefert (4x200 NL)
Amaury Leveaux (50 NL)
William Meynard (100 NL, 4x100 NL)
Anthony Pannier (1500 NL)
Eric Ress (200 dos)
Sébastien Rouault (400 NL, 800 NL, 1500 NL)
Benjamin Stasiulis (200 dos)
Boris Steimetz (4x100 NL)
Jérémy Stravius (50 dos, 100 dos, 4x200 NL)

14 nageuses :
Coralie Balmy (200, 400 NL, 4x100 NL, 4x200 NL)
Cloé Credeville (200 dos)
Sophie de Ronchi (200 4N)
Ophélie-Cyrielle Etienne (400, 800 NL, 4x100 NL)
Margaux Farrel (4x200 NL)
Lara Grangeon (200 papillon, 200 4 N, 4x200 NL)
Mélanie Henique (50 papillon)
Mylène Lazare (4x200 NL)
Aurore Mongel (100 et 200 papillon)
Camille Muffat (200 NL, 400 NL, 200 4N, 4x200 NL)
Aurélie Muller (1500 NL)
Alexandra Putra (200 dos)
Hanna Shcherba (4x100 NL)
Angéla Tavernier (4x100 NL)

Forfait : Alexianne Castel.

Hat tip to Dublincat (twitter.com/dublincat11) for bringing my attention to this story