–France’s Léon Marchand Shines with Golden Double; Katie Ledecky Ties Olympic Record in Historic Swimming Night
Ledecky and Marchand Make History in Epic Night of Swimming In a stunning display of swimming prowess, Léon Marchand of France delivered a historic performance in front of an ecstatic home crowd, securing a golden double on an unforgettable night in Paris. Meanwhile, American Katie Ledecky added to her legendary status by winning a record-equalling eighth Olympic gold medal.
The atmosphere was electric as Marchand, 22, achieved a rare feat by winning two gold medals in the same session. He first triumphed in the 200m butterfly, overcoming reigning champion and world record holder Kristóf Milák of Hungary. Less than two hours later, Marchand dominated the 200m breaststroke, securing his third gold medal of the Games.
Marchand became the first swimmer to win both the 200m butterfly and breaststroke in the same session at the Olympics, setting Olympic-record times in both events. His achievements have drawn comparisons to swimming legends like Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe. British Olympic champion Adrian Moorhouse lauded Marchand’s performance as one of the greatest in the sport’s history.
Earlier in the evening, Katie Ledecky, 27, reinforced her iconic status by defending her 1500m freestyle title in an Olympic record time. This victory tied her with fellow American Jenny Thompson as the most successful female swimmer in Olympic history. Ledecky now has 12 medals overall, matching Thompson’s record of eight golds, three silvers, and one bronze from 1992 to 2004.
To complete a remarkable swimming session, Pan Zhanle of China set a new world record in the 100m freestyle with a time of 46.40 seconds, making his mark in one of the sport’s premier events.
Historic Night at Paris Arena: Léon Marchand and Katie Ledecky Make Waves
The 15,000-capacity indoor arena in Paris, already hailed as the loudest and most thrilling swimming venue in recent memory, witnessed an unforgettable night as Léon Marchand and Katie Ledecky made history.
Marchand, hailing from Toulouse, had fans roaring with every stroke. His performances were nothing short of electrifying, with the crowd erupting into cheers of “Allez” as he swam. In the 200m butterfly, Marchand trailed by almost a body length at the final turn but surged past Hungary’s Kristóf Milák, the world’s top butterfly racer, to win with a time of 1:51.71. The victory was dramatic, with Marchand overtaking Milák in the final moments amidst a frenzied crowd.
Following his first medal ceremony, Marchand quickly retreated to recover, only to return and dominate the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:05.85. He won by nearly a second over Australia’s defending champion Zac Stubblety-Cook. Marchand’s triumphs were celebrated on social media, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling him the “merchant of dreams” and World Cup-winning footballer Antoine Griezmann referring to him as the “Little Prince of the Pool.”
Marchand’s rise has been meteoric, marked by his breaking of Michael Phelps’ long-standing 400m medley record last year. Known in Japan as ‘the new monster,’ he solidified his status as an elite swimmer by achieving the double gold in a single session—an accomplishment not even attempted by Phelps. BBC commentator Andy Jameson praised Marchand’s audacity and success.
The night concluded with a rendition of the French national anthem, and the celebration seemed set to continue. Marchand will take a break before competing in the 200m medley on Friday, where he will face Britain’s Tom Dean and Duncan Scott.
Meanwhile, Katie Ledecky, who continues to redefine distance swimming, clinched her eighth Olympic gold in the 1500m freestyle with a time of 15:30.02. The victory was decisive, with Ledecky finishing seven seconds faster than in Tokyo. At 27, she is now tied with Jenny Thompson as the most successful female swimmer in Olympic history, having won gold at London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. Ledecky will also compete in the 800m freestyle on Friday, where she is a three-time Olympic champion and world record holder. A win would see her equal the record of gymnast Larisa Latynina, who earned nine golds for the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s.
