French swimmer Léon Marchand has cemented his place in Olympic history at the Paris 2024 Games, clinching an unprecedented fourth gold medal in individual events. The 22-year-old from Toulouse secured his latest victory in the 200m individual medley with a time of 1:54.06, setting a new Olympic record. Marchand’s remarkable feat places him in an elite group of swimmers who have won four individual titles in a single Olympics, alongside legends like Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps.Marchand’s gold medal haul includes victories in the 400m individual medley, 200m butterfly, and 200m breaststroke. Despite his incredible success, Marchand has remained humble, refusing to compare himself to swimming legends. ‘This is madness, these guys are legends… legends in their own sport,’ Marchand said. His coach, Bob Bowman, who famously trained Michael Phelps, praised Marchand’s ability to perform under pressure, stating, ‘There were many great swimmers, he’s definitely one of them’.In other Olympic swimming news, 16-year-old Turkish swimmer Kuzey Tunçelli made history by becoming the first Turkish athlete to qualify for an Olympic swimming final. Tunçelli secured his spot in the 1500m freestyle final with a time of 14:45.27, finishing fifth overall in the heats. ‘I’m proud to be the first Turkish athlete to reach the Olympic final,’ Tunçelli said. The final is scheduled for August 4 at 19:37 local time.As the Paris Olympics progress, these performances by Marchand and Tunçelli highlight the emergence of new swimming talents on the global stage, promising an exciting future for the sport.
Key points
- Léon Marchand wins unprecedented fourth individual gold medal at Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Kuzey Tunçelli becomes first Turkish swimmer to qualify for an Olympic final.
- Both Marchand and Tunçelli’s performances signal the rise of new swimming talents on the global stage.
