Leon Marchand, the French swimming sensation, has etched his name in Olympic history by becoming the first swimmer to win the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke double in a single session. The 22-year-old, dubbed the “French Michael Phelps,” has already secured three gold medals in five days of competition at the Paris Games.
Marchand’s dominance in the pool has drawn comparisons to the legendary Phelps, who was coached by Bob Bowman. Bowman, who now coaches Marchand, has praised his pupil’s unique physique and determination. “He’s built like a torpedo,” Bowman said. “His hips and shoulders are the same width, causing little drag.”
In the 200m butterfly, Marchand surged past defending champion Kristof Milak in the final lap, setting an Olympic record. Just two hours later, he returned to the pool and led from start to finish in the 200m breaststroke, leaving no chance for Zac Stubblety-Cook to catch up.
Marchand’s parents, Celine Bonnet and Xavier Marchand, are both former swimming Olympians. The youngster’s success has captivated France, with fans erupting in cheers at the fencing hall as he won his third gold medal.
Meanwhile, American swimming icon Katie Ledecky has tied a swimming record by winning her 12th Olympic medal. The 27-year-old dominated the 1,500m freestyle, equaling the record held by Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin, and Jenny Thompson. Ledecky is expected to break the record with a 13th medal in the 4×200 freestyle relay.
In a surprising turn of events, China’s Pan Zhanle set a new world record in the 100m freestyle. Pan won by over one second, leaving Kyle Chalmers, the 2016 Rio champion, a full body length behind. Pan’s victory marks China’s first swimming gold medal of the Games.
