NANTERRE, France — at the 400-meter individual medley final for men, Leon Marchand pulled away from a group of top swimmers only moments after thousands of his compatriots sung the French national song loudly and proudly at La Defence venue outside of Paris.
After the race, in which the 22-year-old won his first Olympic gold medal, Marchand stated, “It was an amazing time for me.” “I was really living it in the moment.”
Marchand, an Austin, Texas resident who formerly raced for Arizona State University, dominated the event, which involves freestyle, back, breast, and butterfly strokes.
Marchand seemed to be swimming in a another pool at points throughout the race since he was so far ahead.
He reached the wall almost five seconds ahead of Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita, who earned silver, in a sport where championships are sometimes decided by the narrowest of margins.
With a time of 4:02:95, the athlete broke Michael Phelps’ 2008 Beijing Games record and established a new one.
Marchand said, “On the podium, I had goosebumps.” “I felt really proud to be myself and to be French.”
A French-American competitor for Arizona State University
Marchand’s youthful good looks have made him a national hero for the Paris Olympics. French President Emmanuel Macron contacted to congratulate him after his victory on Sunday night.
Prior to becoming pro this spring, Marchand was coached by Bob Bowman at ASU, who also assisted in getting him ready for the Olympics.
Marchand was the finest swimmer in this race ever, he stated, adding, “That was a great swim.” “He is capable of swimming more quickly than that. He has both speed and endurance.
In the medley final, Carson Foster, an American swimmer, also surprised everyone by winning the bronze.
“I haven’t had good races in big moments, so tonight just felt good,” Foster said.
However, he seemed to be equally impressed with Marchand’s show and the boisterous French audience.
Foster described the fervent mood in the crowded stadium as “pretty wild.” “For Leon to be able to do it in his own nation was unique. Someday, I’ll be able to share it with my children.”
For the American swimmers, another silver
In the men’s 100-meter breaststroke final, Nic Fink stormed to a tie with the venerable British Olympian Adam Peaty for the silver medal, causing yet another shock for the American swimming team.
In the race, Peaty had been well favoured.
Regarding his unexpected medal achievement, Fink said, “I wasn’t really thinking about it.” “It was just sort of fast-paced. I was aware that everything would be quite near, with everyone being within a hair’s breadth.”
Italian Nicolo Martinenghi took home the gold medal, his nation’s first at these Games, just edging out Fink and Peaty by a mere second.