The 22-year-old French Swimmer Leon Marchand, who already won one gold medal in the men’s 400m individual medley event, bagged two more gold medals on Wednesday (31st July) night. With his twin gold medals, Marchand created a new Olympic history.
On Wednesday, in the spare two hours, Leon Marchand won gold medals in the men’s 200m butterfly and men’s 200m breaststroke events. He became the first swimmer to win both the men’s 200m butterfly and men’s 200m breaststroke gold medals at the same Summer Olympics.
Leon Marchand beat the defending champion to win the men’s 200m butterfly
The men’s 200m butterfly final event started at 20:37 local time, where Leon Marchand set a new Olympic record to win his second gold medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics. He clocked 1:51.21 to beat the defending champion Hungarian Kristof Milak, who clocked 1:51.75 to secure the silver medal. Canadian Ilya Kharun won the bronze medal in that event (1:52.80), which was his first Olympic medal.
The previous Olympic record for the men’s 200m butterfly final was 1:51.25 by Hungarian Kristof Milak during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Milak also holds the world record by clocking in at 1:50.34.
Leon Marchand set up another Olympic record in the men's 200m breaststroke success
The men’s 200m breaststroke final event started at 22:31 local time. French swimmer Leon Marchand once again shined with a gold medal in that event by completing the race in 2:05.85, which once again set up an Olympic record. Australian Zac Stubblety-Cook was the previous record holder by completing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics event in 2:06.38. In fact, Marchand was even very close to breaking Chinese swimmer Qin Haiyang’s world record of 2:05.48.
Defending champion Australian Zac Stubblety-Cook finished the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s 200m breaststroke event by securing the silver medal after clocking in at 2:06.79.
Dutch swimmer Caspar Corbeau (2:07.90) claimed his first Olympic medal after confirming his bronze medal in the men’s 200m breaststroke event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
What did Leon Marchand say?
Marchand said after completing double success on Wednesday, "I've fulfilled a lot of dreams since I've been here. Doing this double was something I felt I could do. But to really do it, that's something else.”
Just like others, the 22-year-old also had doubts about winning gold medals in both the men’s 200m butterfly and men’s 200m breaststroke events. He added, "Of course, I had a lot of doubts. Because everyone told me it wasn't possible.”
After winning the men’s 400m individual medley, men’s 200m butterfly, and men’s 200m breaststroke, Marchand is now looking at the men’s 200m individual medley event. On the other hand, his men’s 4 × 200 m freestyle relay team finished in fifth place, while his men’s 4 × 100 m medley relay team has yet to participate.
