Léon Marchand Claims Olympic Record in 400 IMLéon Marchand Claims Olympic Record in 400 IM At the Tokyo Olympics, French swimmer Léon Marchand made history by breaking the Olympic record in the 400-meter individual medley (IM). Despite falling short of his own world record of 4:02.50, Marchand touched the wall in an impressive 4:02.95 seconds. Marchand’s remarkable performance on the final turn had initially hinted at a potential world record, but he faded slightly in the final stretch. Nevertheless, his Olympic record erased the previous mark held by American legend Michael Phelps for 15 years. Marchand had previously shattered the world record at the 2021 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, becoming the first swimmer to break the 4:03-minute barrier in the event. The 19-year-old’s victory in the 400 IM fulfilled the hopes of the French nation, which had eagerly anticipated a swimming gold medal. Marchand’s triumph marked a significant achievement for French swimming and solidified his status as one of the sport’s rising stars.
He was under world-record pace on the final turn but faded a bit coming home, touching in 4 minutes, 2.95 seconds — an Olympic record, but just shy of his own world mark of 4:02.50. Marchand claims that mark at last year’s world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, erasing a record held by Michael Phelps for 15 years.
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