French swimmer Léon Marchand made history at the Paris Olympics by winning gold in both the 200-meter butterfly and the 200-meter breaststroke on the same night. Marchand set an Olympic record in the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 1:51.21, beating out Hungary’s Kristóf Milák. Just two hours later, he set another Olympic record in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:05.85. This incredible performance solidified Marchand as one of the greatest swimmers of the Games.
Marchand, only 22 years old, has already won three gold medals in Paris, including a gold in the 400-meter individual medley earlier in the week. He is only the fourth male swimmer in Olympic history to win more than two individual gold medals at the same Games. Competing in his home country, Marchand has felt the pressure and expectations of his fellow countrymen and women, but he has risen to the occasion and delivered outstanding performances.
Marchand’s coach, Bob Bowman, who also coached Michael Phelps, had confidence in Marchand’s ability to tackle the challenging schedule of swimming in two finals within two hours. Marchand, who has experience with quick turnarounds from his time at Arizona State, felt prepared for the demanding double. Winning two gold medals in one night was a dream come true for Marchand, and he expressed his pride in himself and his country.
The atmosphere in Paris La Défense Arena has been electric, with the crowd rallying behind Marchand in every race. The support from the fans has fueled Marchand’s performances, with the swimmer describing the experience as something akin to a soccer match. Despite the pressure, Marchand has remained confident and focused on swimming his best at his home Olympics.
Looking ahead, Marchand has another opportunity to medal in the men’s 200-meter individual medley. He will compete in the prelims for that event on Thursday morning. As Marchand continues to make waves in the swimming world, fans and spectators eagerly await his next race to see if he can add to his impressive medal haul at the Paris Olympics.
