Savior Cristofini, the younger prodigy who swims sooner than Léon Marchand | EUROtoday
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IHe isn’t but 16 years outdated, however he has already damaged a number of Léon Marchand information. Revelation of the French Short Course Championships in Taverny (Val-d’Oise), Sauveur Cristofini, Marseillais of Corsican origin, trains in Martigues below the management of the well-known Philippe Lucas, ex-mentor of Laure Manaudou.
A 1.90 m big, junior European champion and diligent highschool scholar, he embodies the subsequent technology of French swimming like Léon Marchand and his 4 gold medals received on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Here are eight issues to find out about this phenomenon who, at 15, is already swimming within the wake of the best, and who can be discovered on the European Short Course Championships in Lublin (Poland), from December 2 to 7.
1. He has spectacular measurements
He was born on November 29, 2009 in Marseille, after Alain Bernard’s victory within the 100m freestyle on the Beijing Olympic Games. And he already has some nice measurements: he’s 1.90 m tall and wears dimension 50 sneakers.
2. He broke two Léon Marchand information in at some point
On October 26, 2025, on the French Short Course Championships, Sauveur Cristofini achieved an unprecedented double within the 200m medley. In the morning, he beat the French under-16 file throughout the heats in 1’59”97, held by Léon Marchand.
The similar night, within the remaining, he improved his time to 1’57”86, erasing the earlier file (additionally held by Léon Marchand) for the under-17s. A efficiency which, nonetheless, didn’t permit him to climb onto the rostrum.
3. He is already a junior European champion
Even earlier than his Taverny information, Cristofini received the title of junior European champion within the 4 x 200m freestyle relay final 12 months in Slovakia. This efficiency opened the doorways to the France A workforce for him.
4. He is aiming for the junior world file within the 400m freestyle
“The junior world record, I can perhaps do it there, I can give myself this objective,” declared the younger prodigy after leaving the Taverny swimming pools. Cristofini has the European Short Course Championships in his sights. His current time, 3’39”69, is in truth solely two seconds away from the world junior file for the space (3’37’92).
5. He trains with Philippe Lucas
Since 2024, the little prodigy has been coaching in Martigues, below the course of media specialist Philippe Lucas. “We must not skip the steps,” warns Laure Manaudou’s former coach, quoted by West France. But, if he continues like this, he has no drawback, no damage, motivation, and he stays critical in his work, I believe that, in a 12 months and a half, he can do very badly. »
6. He is licensed in Corsica
Although he trains in Bouches-du-Rhône, Sauveur Cristofini stays trustworthy to his roots. He is licensed by Gazélec Ajaccio Natation (GFCA), out of attachment to his island. “I keep the memory of my grandfather Robert, from Propriano, the memory also of my holidays in L’Île-Rousse, in Calvi… I am proud of my Corsican origins,” he mentioned in Corsica-Morning.
7. He would not simply have swimming on his thoughts
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Kangaroo of the day
Answer
You may assume he’s solely targeted on his swimming lane, however Savior Cristofini additionally is aware of find out how to get his head out of the water, in keeping with Provence : he significantly enjoys fishing, studying, chess and enjoying the guitar.
8. He goals of Olympic gold
Despite his hobbies, his aim stays the search for Olympic medals, as he advised throughout the summer time at Lorraine Republican : “The aim can be to be thrice Olympic champion. » For his coach on the time, Pascal Forassassi, this shouldn’t be seen as vanity: “It’s simply that he’s not afraid to set targets. »
https://www.lepoint.fr/sport/sauveur-cristofini-le-jeune-prodige-qui-nage-plus-vite-que-leon-marchand-28-10-2025-2601952_26.php