Breaking Michael Phelps’ ‘untouchable’ 400 particular person medley world file two years in the past. Profitable two particular person Olympic gold medals in 118 minutes on the La Protection Enviornment.
However eclipsing Ryan Lochte’s 2011 world file within the 200m medley — and never simply by a fraction — stamped his brilliance as soon as extra.
Most swimmers chase the world file line with their fingertips. The time, the world file line was attempting to catch Marchand’s toes, that are definitely not dimension 17s like Ian Thorpe, however do the trick.
Marchand touched the wall in 1:52.69 and even he was blown away by a time sooner than Mark Spitz’ 200m freestyle effort throughout his seven gold medal blitz on the 1972 Munich Olympics.
“I really can’t actually consider it proper now,” Marchand stated. “It’s unbelievable for me. What’s loopy is that it’s an entire second. A 1:52 on the 200m — that’s insane. I’m so glad, it’s simply unbelievable.”
Marchand, who studied pc science in school within the US, dropped each the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke this yr to focus on world data within the 200m and 400m particular person medleys.
Leon Marchand broke a 14-year-old world file within the 200m particular person medley. Credit score: Getty Pictures
He spent the early a part of this yr in Brisbane coaching with Boxall and his St Peter’s Western squad, which options the likes of O’Callaghan and Will Petric.
Petric, swimming in lane one of many semi, completed 5.52 seconds behind Marchand.
In between browsing journeys to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, Marchand frolicked with Boxall honing his freestyle.
“That group was actually welcoming from the primary week. They’re superb,” Marchand stated in an interview with SwimSwam earlier this yr. “It was a terrific expertise. I’ve discovered so much about getting higher at freestyle. That group is de facto good for that.”
A couple of lanes over throughout these classes, O’Callaghan was rediscovering her love for swimming after her 200m freestyle gold medal in Paris.
Mollie O’Callaghan celebrates after profitable gold within the ladies’s 200m freestyle ultimate. Credit score: Getty Pictures
On Wednesday night time, she delivered once more. O’Callaghan (1:53.48) swam a medical race, utilizing American Claire Weinstein to set the early tempo earlier than charging house within the ultimate lap to win by 1.04 seconds.
“A constructive atmosphere positively makes a world of distinction,” O’Callaghan stated. “It’s good to return to a pool and really feel at house.
“Coming right here was one of many final issues I assumed I might do. At first of the yr when you instructed me I’d be world champion once more, I might be shocked.”
Australia had two real gold medal possibilities on night time 4. They left with one – and a case of what may need been.
The workforce was rocked by a meals poisoning drama after Brief introduced he wouldn’t line up within the 800m freestyle ultimate.
Brief gained a silver medal within the occasion on the 2023 world championships and was the second-fastest qualifier for the ultimate. He was aiming to change into the primary Australian to win world championships gold within the 800m freestyle since Grant Hackett in 2005.
Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi took the gold in a time of seven:36.88, slightly below Brief’s private finest of seven:37.76.
Swimming Australia says no different athletes have been affected.
“For him to not have the ability to swim tonight, he’s not feeling effectively as a result of he’s an extremely competitor,” stated Dolphins head coach Rohan Taylor.
The surprising story of the night time was Turner, who not solely gained bronze however broke Nick D’Arcy’s Australian file within the 200m butterfly.
Turner wasn’t anticipated to make the workforce — not to mention the rostrum — however has dropped large private bests in latest months.
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“I by no means thought I’d be really speaking to you guys … that is one thing I dream about,” Turner stated.
On the midway mark of those world championships, the Dolphins nonetheless lead the medal tally on 4 golds, one forward of the USA.
There’s a world the place Brief already has two golds in Singapore. As an alternative, he has a silver within the 400m freestyle — by 0.02 seconds — and a sore abdomen that can be monitored in coming days. He hopes to be proper for the 4x200m freestyle relay.
Kaylee McKeown’s absence from the 50m backstroke could have value Australia one other gold medal on the tally. Throw within the truth Ariarne Titmus is taking a yr off.
But when Marchand and Canada’s Summer time McIntosh hold pinching golds off the Individuals, Australia may be about to occasion prefer it’s Fukuoka 2023 — and even 2001 — once more.
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