Leon Marchand pulls off one of the most daring doubles in swimming history at the Paris Olympics
NANTERRE, France: Looks like those Michael Phelps comparisons weren't far-fetched when it comes to Leon Marchand.
They certainly weren't a burden for the 22-year-old Frenchman.
Marchand completed one of the most audacious doubles in swimming history Wednesday night, winning the 200-meter butterfly and 200 breaststroke about two hours apart in front of a home crowd cheering her every stroke.
Two grueling races. Two very different shots. Two Olympic records. Two gold medals.
Take that, Phelps, who did more doubles of his own while winning a record eight golds at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“I'm a really shy person,” Marchand said. “I was kind of the center of attention during the two races. I was trying to get the energy from the whole crowd. They are amazing for me, pushing me in every final.”
Exciting the French fans and holding the spotlight even on a night when Katie Ledecky claimed another gold medal, Marchand claimed her second and third victories at La Defense Arena and tagged herself – with the Olympic Games as old as at least a week – as one of the faces. of the Games.
After rallying to beat world record holder and defending Olympic champion Kristof Milák in the 200 with a finish for the ages, Marchand made it look easy in the 200 breast.
He led the way, touching in 2 minutes, 5.85 seconds, as more than 15,000 fans — many of them holding up cardboard cutouts of his smiling face — nearly blew the roof off La Defense Arena.
“Leon! Leo! Léon!” they shouted, a chant that would surely go on all night in Paris.
Marchand puts the work on the line
Coming most of the way in the 200 fly, Marchand passed Hungarian Milak on the final lap to finish in an Olympic record 1:51.71, finishing first by just four-hundredths of a second.
Marchand's final lap was almost 0.66 faster than anyone else in the field – and 1.26 clear of Milák.
“I've watched so many races from him,” Marchand said. “I know she has a lot of speed, a lot more than me, so I was trying to get as close as possible and then push her all the way.”
The bronze went to the Canadian Ilya Kharun.
After his dominating victory in the 400 individual medley on Sunday, Marchand waved a finger and shook his head slightly, as if he couldn't believe what he had done.
He then rushed off the deck for another rousing cheer to begin his warm-up, though those preparations were interrupted by a mandatory turn for the victory ceremony.
After a raucous rendition of “La Marseillaise,” the other two medalists walked slowly around the pool, taking their pictures.
Not Marchand. He rushed back to the training pool. There was still a race to go.
Ledecky's Golden Record
The American star made the most of her appearance on The Marchand Show, claiming her seventh individual Olympic gold – she also has a relay gold – and 12th overall with a runaway victory in the 1,500 freestyle.
Ledecky, 27, tied fellow Americans Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin and Jenny Thompson for the most medals by a female swimmer. Ledecky already held the mark for most individual gold medals by a woman entering these games.
“I try not to think too much about history,” Ledecky said. “But I know those names, those people I'm up there with, they're swimmers I looked up to when I first started swimming. So it's an honor just to be named among them.”
Ledecky led from the start and steadily pulled away, clocking an Olympic record 15:30.02 in an event that joined the women's program at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
This was similar to the race three years ago: Ledecky at the front and everyone else competing for a silver.
France's Anastasiia Kirpichinikova finished nearly half a lap behind but delighted the home fans by claiming second place on the podium in 15:40.35.
The bronze went to the German Isabel Gose at 15:41.16.
After starting the Paris Games with a bronze in the 400 free, this result felt more familiar to Ledecky.
She was clearly delighted to be back on top, splashing water and pumping her fist several times as she walked the deck – a rare display of emotion for a stoic athlete who performs with machine-like efficiency.
“I know a lot of other people expected that from me,” Ledecky said. “That doesn't make it any easier. I mean, it's not easy to always follow through and do your job.”
Marchand returns for more gold
As Ledecky walked off the deck with her gold medal, it was time for Marchand to go for his second of the night,
No problem. He blew away the field in the 200 breaststroke with an Olympic record of 2:05.85, knocking off another Tokyo champion.
Australia's Zac Stubblety-Cook settled for silver this time, nearly a second back in 2:06.79. Claiming the bronze was Casper Corbeau of the Netherlands.
“The most exciting part of that race and watching him enjoy it all and have his moment,” Stubblety-Cook said. “I think it's wonderful. It's great for the sport of swimming and it's great to see the best half of 15,000 people chanting someone's name and watching the swim live.”
Marchand got out of the pool and looked at the scoreboard. She tossed her curly hair a few times, then threw her arms in the air.
His work was done, at least for a few hours. Next up is the 200 singles, which begins with Thursday morning heats.
“I'm very proud of him,” said his coach, American Bob Bowman, who also coached Phelps. “It's a tremendous historic effort.”
China's Pan Zhanle sets first swimming world record at Paris Games
China's Pan Zhanle set the first world record of these Games, breaking his own mark in the 100 freestyle.
He won in 46.40, easily eclipsing the mark of 46.80 he set in February at the world championships in Doha.
It was an impressive feat considering the small pool at La Defense Arena, which was cited as the main reason why no world records fell in the first four days of the meet.
Australia's Kyle Chalmers won the silver and Romania's David Popovici won the bronze.
Swedish gold for five-time Olympian Sjostrom
Sarah Sjostrom made her fifth Olympic gold medal celebration with a victory in the 100 freestyle.
Sjostrom scaled back her schedule at the last two world championships, swimming only the 50 free. She decided to add 100 at the Paris Games, and boy, did that decision pay off.
Her winning time was 52.16, with the US settling for another silver medal – its eighth of the swimming competition – when Torri Huske finished in 52.29. Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey took the bronze.
