Leon Marchand Shatters 200m Medley World Record in Singapore, Surpassing Lochte's Mark

Leon Marchand of France achieved a remarkable feat at the world championships in Singapore on Wednesday. He shattered the world record in the 200-meter individual medley, surpassing the previous record set in 2011 by American swimmer Ryan Lochte. Marchand's time was an impressive 1 minute and 52.61 seconds, significantly faster than Lochte's 1:54.00.

The record-breaking swim occurred during the semifinals. Marchand expressed his disbelief and excitement, acknowledging that he felt prepared for a strong performance. He had been feeling good and his preparation had been solid. He was surprised by the final time.

Following his triumphant performance at the Paris Olympics, the French champion took a break from competitive swimming. He returned to competition in May. Marchand, who won four Olympic gold medals in Paris, is focusing on the 200 and 400 medley events, as well as relays, in Singapore. He has described this year as a transition period, allowing him to maintain freshness as he pursues further world records.

Marchand is scheduled to compete in the 400 IM on Sunday, the final day of the world championships. He currently holds the world record in that event, with a time of 4:02.50, which he set at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.