French Olympic swimmer, Léon Marchand, made history at the Paris Olympics by becoming the first athlete to win both the 200-meter butterfly and the 200-meter breaststroke events at the same Olympic games, and on the same night. In both events, Marchand broke Olympic records. His time of 1:51.21 in the 200-meter butterfly was a legendry comeback against Hungary’s Kristóf Milák, and soon after, he set another record in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:05.85.
During the same week, Marchand also snatched a gold medal for the 400-meter individual medley race, showcasing his diverse talent as a swimmer. Notably, with these three wins, the French athlete becomes the fourth male swimmer in Olympic history to win more than two individual golds at the same Games. The 22-year-old was also competing in his home Olympics, much to the delight of countrymen and women.
Marchand’s time of 4:02.95 in the 400 IM set another Olympic record, breaking the previous mark established by Michael Phelps in 2008. This event granted him his first Olympic gold medal and approval from his home country. The day was meant to be a spotlight for Marchand as he was listed to compete in the finals for both 200-meter categories, just two hours apart. According to Marchand, he was prepared for the double due to his NCAA experiences at Arizona State College.
Marchand’s coach, Bob Bowman, suggested he could manage the double after observing his prowess in the 400 IM race. Despite describing his recent days as feeling like a marathon, Marchand said he felt he had sufficient time to rest and prepare in between the races. Winning two gold medals in one night had always been a dream of his, one he achieved in the Paris Olympics.
The Paris La Défense Arena has embraced Marchand in every way, creating an atmosphere similar to that witnessed during a soccer game every time he stepped up to the starting block. Despite this, Marchand was well prepared, knowing he had worked hard for this moment. His coach, Bob Bowman, tried to keep him focused, avoiding all possible distractions and ensuring his preparedness in the water. Marchand had another shot at a medal in the men’s 200-meter individual medley where he was set to compete in the prelims Thursday morning.
