NANTERRE, France — French sensation Léon Marchand continued his spectacular run on the Paris Olympics by changing into the primary swimmer in historical past to win the 200-meter butterfly and the 200-meter breaststroke on the identical Video games. And he did it on the identical evening.
Marchand earned his first gold medal of the day within the 200-meter butterfly and set an Olympic file with a time of 1:51.21 in an unbelievable come-from-behind win over Hungary’s Kristóf Milák, who completed second in 1:51.75.
UNREAL. LEON MARCHAND WITH AN INCREDIBLE COMEBACK TO IGNITE THE CROWD IN PARIS. 🇫🇷#ParisOlympics | 📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/oErY1zMUvu
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 31, 2024
About two hours later, Marchand set one other Olympic file by swimming the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:05.85. It was arguably the best one-night swimming efficiency in Olympic historical past.
“I knew it was attainable for me to do — to complete the races, however perhaps not win them,” Marchand mentioned. “I by no means knew (if I might win each).”
Earlier within the week, Marchand gained a gold medal within the 400-meter particular person medley. So, he’s three-for-three in gold, with one occasion left in his program.
He’s simply the fourth male swimmer in Olympic historical past to win greater than two particular person gold medals on the identical Video games.
“Marchand’s march to greatness CONTINUES!” 🇫🇷
Leon Marchand simply cannot be stopped in his dwelling nation. He wins gold within the males’s 200m breaststroke. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/DEAEFeIxG4
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 31, 2024
The 22-year-old Frenchman, competing in his dwelling Olympics, has been below a microscope all meet, carrying the strain and hope of his countrymen and ladies in every of his swims. And he’s completely delivered.
Marchand’s time of 4:02.95 within the 400 IM additionally set an Olympic file, breaking the mark set by Michael Phelps in 2008. It was Marchand’s first Olympic gold medal and a second that gave him goosebumps. Marchand mentioned he was happy with himself and in addition his nation.
Wednesday was all the time going to be a spotlight of Marchand’s program in Paris, with him hoping to swim within the finals of the 200 fly and the 200-meter breaststroke in a span of two hours. It’s an formidable double with two grueling races, however a schedule that Marchand mentioned he’d been ready for due to his NCAA expertise at Arizona State. He’s used to doubles and brief turnarounds between races and felt assured he might deal with this schedule right here.
Marchand’s coach, Bob Bowman, advised him he thought he might full Wednesday’s double after the 400 IM closing due to how robust his breaststroke appeared.
Marchand mentioned the previous couple of days have felt “sort of like a marathon,” however he thought he had sufficient time to recuperate and put together in between. Successful two gold medals in a single evening was a dream of his.
“I had two gold medals in two hours, and that’s fairly unbelievable,” he mentioned.
Marchand has been assured in just about each setting he’s been in at his dwelling Video games. Paris La Défense Enviornment has embraced him with each arms, the gang loud and rollicking every time he steps as much as the beginning block {that a} competitor in contrast the setting to the texture of a soccer match.
STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND LISTEN. 🔉
Leon Marchand had the Paris followers in an absolute frenzy throughout his comeback win. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/3a5tdktQ0a
— NBC Sports activities (@NBCSports) July 31, 2024
However Marchand had been making ready for this second, and he knew coming into the meet simply how arduous he’d been working to succeed on this stage. Bowman has been by related experiences along with his former protege — Phelps. He’s tried to maintain Marchand in his routine, avoiding as many potential distractions as attainable.
“The primary factor is simply getting ready within the water — the primary factor is simply swimming as quick as attainable,” Marchand advised The Athletic this spring. “However it’s additionally not solely about swimming when it’s a house Olympics.”
A house Olympics additionally signifies that his smile is a bit larger after he touches the partitions and the cheers are even louder than he might ever have imagined.
Marchand has one other alternative to medal within the males’s 200-meter particular person medley. He’ll swim within the prelims for that occasion Thursday morning.
For extra on swimming on the Olympics, observe The Athletic‘s stay weblog.
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(Photograph: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Photographs)
