Léon Marchand shatters the world record in the 200m medley

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It was only a matter of time. After running in during the Shanghai stage, approaching the American’s time (1’49”63) with a time of 1’50”30 – and a French and European record unhooked – Léon Marchand this time improved the world record for the 200m short course medley by almost a second by achieving a stratospheric time of 1’48”88.

In the Singapore swimming pool, the Frenchman became the first swimmer to go below the 1’49” mark in the 200m medley. ” It was very exciting for me, I tried to do something that had never been done before (swim in less than 1’49”, editor’s note), so I gave everything I had into the water. The crowd really pushed me, it reminded me of the Olympics “, simply declared Marchand at the edge of the pool after his demonstration.

A third hat-trick in sight

Thursday October 31, quadruple Olympic champion of the Paris Olympics had already established a new European record by winning the 100m medley, wearing the hat of his compatriot Florent Manaudou. He won in 49″92, improving by 34 hundredths the previous continental record which had been held since 2018 by the Russian Vladimir Morozov. He also became the second man in history to go under the 50-second mark, behind the American Caeleb Dressel, world record holder in 49″28.

Three months after his dream Olympics, the Toulouse native will close his Asian tour by competing in the 400m medley on Saturday, with the ambition of winning a third hat-trick in medley after those gleaned in Shanghai and Incheon. His season will then continue in Budapest during the Short Course World Championships organized from December 10 to 15.

Also readWill the Léon Marchand effect last in the world of French swimming?