Frenchman Léon Marchand won the 200-yard breaststroke (183 meters) of the NCAA university finals by achieving a new record time on Saturday March 30 in Indianapolis, United States. Four months before the Paris Olympic Games (July 26-August 11), where he is a big favorite in several disciplines, Marchand is participating in the NCAA finals for Arizona State University, where he studies and trains with Bob Bowman, the former mentor of American swimming legend Michael Phelps. After having already shone on Thursday March 28 (victory and record in the 500-yard freestyle) and Friday March 29 (victory in the 400-yard medley), the 21-year-old Frenchman dominated the 200-yard breaststroke in 1’46″35, erasing his own NCAA record (1’46″91 in 2023). “ I just try to explore all my possibilities, I don’t have a time goal when I swim, my goal is just to give my best. Swimming the breaststroke wasn’t easy this evening, but it’s a very good time which makes me very happy “, declared Marchand, triple world champion last summer in Fukuoka, Japan. The Toulousain is one of the most anticipated French athletes at the Paris Olympics, where he will aim for at least gold in the 200 meters medley and 400 meters medley, and could complete his program with the 200 meter butterfly, of which he is also world champion, or the 200 meter breaststroke, in addition to the relay. Marchand will still have to go through the French Long Course Championships in Chartres from June 11 to 16 to qualify for the Olympic Games.
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