France picks 29 swimmers for Olympics

France wound up its national swimming championships on Sunday, choosing 29 swimmers to represent the country at the London Olympics. Anthony Pannier and Damien Joly were the final qualifiers for the Games, after taking first and second place in the final of the 1,500m freestyle. Twenty-three-year-old Pannier touched first in 15:01.43 -- the fourth-quickest time of the year, ahead of Joly, who swam the fifth-quickest in 15:02.43. European champion Sebastien Rouault was third and misses out on an Olympics berth. Rouault had previously failed to qualify in the 400m freestyle. France's team includes 2004 Olympic champion Laure Manaudou, who goes in the 100m and 200m backstroke. Beijing 100m freestyle champion Alain Bernard, who missed out on the individual events, was named as a replacement in the relays. Manaudou had wanted to cede her place for the 200m to her friend Cloe Credeville, who came third in the trials but the head of French swimming on Sunday ruled out the possibility. "I'm not changing my opinion," said French national technical director Christian Donze. "The rules say that the first two in the final qualify. There's no question of the third being asked to join the squad." Bernard, 2011 joint world world champion Jeremy Stravius and world bronze medallist William Meynard all missed out on qualifying for their specialist events, but will be on stand-by for the relays, Donze added. Bernard and Meynard will provide back-up for the 4x100m freestyle relay team, while backstroke specialist Stravius will support the 4x200m freestyle relay team. France squad: 50m freestyle: Amaury Leveaux, Florent Manaudou 100m freestyle: Yannick Agnel, Fabien Gilot 200m freestyle: Yannick Agnel, Amaury Leveaux 1,500m freestyle: Damien Joly, Anthony Pannier 100m backstroke: Camille Lacourt, Benjamin Stasiulis 200m backstroke: Benjamin Stasiulis 4x100m freestyle: Yannick Agnel, Fabien Gilot, Amaury Leveaux, Alain Bernard, Clement Lefert, William Meynard 4x200m freestyle: Yannick Agnel, Amaury Leveaux, Lorys Bourelly, Clement Lefert, Gregory Mallet, Jeremy Stravius 4x100m medley relay: Camille Lacourt, Benjamin Stasiulis, Clement Lefert, Giacomo Perez Dortona, Romain Sassot, Hugues Duboscq Women 50m freestyle: Anna Santamans 200m freestyle: Camille Muffat 400m freestyle: Coralie Balmy, Camille Muffat 800m freestyle: Coralie Balmy 100m backstroke: Alexianne Castel, Laure Manaudou 200m backstroke: Alexianne Castel, Laure Manaudou 4x200m freestyle: Coralie Balmy, Camille Muffat, Charlotte Bonnet, Ophélie-Cyrielle Etienne, Margaux Farrell, Mylène Lazare 4x100m medley relay: Charlotte Bonnet, Laure Manaudou, Justine Bruno, Fanny Babou