French swimming sensation Léon Marchand, 22, clinched gold in the men’s 400m individual medley at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday, July 28, setting a new Olympic record with a blistering time of 4:02.95. This performance shattered the previous Olympic record held by swimming legend Michael Phelps, which had stood for 16 years.Marchand’s victory was nothing short of dominant, as he finished nearly six seconds ahead of his closest competitors. Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita secured the silver medal, while American Carson Foster took bronze.The newly crowned Olympic champion expressed his elation after the race, stating, ‘It was a dream since I was little to make an Olympic final, to be Olympic champion too. And now I do it at home in front of all these people, it was crazy’.Marchand’s success is attributed in part to his coach, Bob Bowman, who famously guided Michael Phelps to his historic achievements. Under Bowman’s tutelage, Marchand has flourished, adopting a rigorous training regimen that has clearly paid dividends.This gold medal adds to Marchand’s already impressive resume, which includes five world championship titles. Looking ahead, the French swimmer is slated to compete in several more events at these Olympics, including the 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke, and 200m individual medley. With this stellar start, Marchand has positioned himself as one of the brightest stars of the Paris Games, with the potential to add even more medals to his tally.
Key points
- Léon Marchand wins gold in 400m individual medley at 2024 Paris Olympics.
- Marchand sets new Olympic record with a time of 4:02.
- Marchand finished nearly six seconds ahead of silver and bronze medalists.
- Marchand is coached by Bob Bowman, former coach of Michael Phelps.
- Marchand is set to compete in several more events at the Paris Olympics.
95, breaking Michael Phelps’ 16-year-old record.
