Two hundred left Jessica Vall short of the 200 breaststroke Olympic minimum

Perhaps the third Olympic Games can give more luster to the record of a sports career. Especially when they are a highly pursued goal, worked hard for many years. Especially, in a season where he made a strong commitment to prove to himself that he will continue to be among the best, after months of suffering injuries that seemed to keep him away from the top level.

But they will never change the background. two hundredas light as eternity, They separated Jessica Vall from qualifying for a third Olympic Games. The native of Barcelona, ​​with his legend more than false in his career, approached the Olympic passport of 200 breaststroke in a race of the highest brutality in their fight in this entire Olympic cycle.

With a 2:23.93 in the final of the Spanish Open in Palma de Mallorca, Jessica was two hundredths away from 2:23.91 to sign the passport to the Paris Olympic Games. He was left on the brink of the Olympic minimum A, which gives a direct passport, and with that he was left almost without any option to be in the French event. A mere invitation to its minimum B could change the harsh outcome of the story, but World Aquatics has warned in recent months that there is no room for swimmers with these grades due to the large number of direct minimums made these past few months.

Two-time Olympian (2016 and 2021), world bronze medalist, triple European medalist and double European medalist in the short course, with gold between those two metals, they are looking for the perfect Olympic finishing touch in a career of more than ten years in the elite, the past since the explosion of that bracista that surprised the classification of the 2013 Barcelona World Cup Nothing happened after that was a surprise, but in its constant desire to improve, Vall is looking for the hardest in 2024: the third Games after the ankle injury that ruined a good part of the previous season and forced him to make the most of himself this 2023-2024 season.

But the girl with the eternal smile decided to fight for one last dream that seemed far away and she herself insisted on getting closer in every competition she did this season. She came prepared to battle it out at the Open, but the outcome was as harsh as few others, as seen on Jessica’s face after the race.

Those 2:23.93s made him surpass his eternal companion in fatigue in the 200 breaststroke, Marina García was second with 2:25.76girl already Emma Carrasco called to take the place of the future, third to 2:26.42. The two immediately hugged Vall who couldn’t help but get angry when he saw how close the Olympic dream was.

Jessica started it from the start, with a strong rhythm that both Marina and Emma managed to follow on the first pitch. The two remained closely following their partner in the second pool, demanding another point and fully involved in the fight for the minimum.

HoweverVall got the higher score on the third pitch to add a few tenths to both and form the lowest option in the final pitch. He pressed it, with the whole pool supporting him, but the wall press decided that two hundred would dictate the sentence and leave the Barcelonan without a ticket to the Paris Games.

Two roads that could add more luster to an extraordinary record. But they are too two hundred that do not change the legendary figure of Jessica Vall Montero.

Women’s 200 breaststroke final results (Olympic minimum 2:23.91)

1. Jessica Vall (Sant Andreu) 2:23.93
2. Marina García (Sabadell) 2:25.76
3. Emma Carrasco (Sant Andreu) 2:26.42
4. Nayara Pineda (Torrelago Wellness) 2:28.01
5. Laura Rodríguez (Mijas) 2:33.23
6. Ainhoa​​​​Martín (Bidasoa) 2:33.60
7. Sofia Carballo (Ponteareas) 2:35.35
8. Isabel Fernández (Canoe) 2:35.95