France’s Léon Marchand thrilled the home crowd by setting a new Olympic record in the 400m individual medley, winning gold at his home Games.
Marchand, aiming for four individual golds in Paris, dominated the race with a 5.67-second lead over Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita in second, and the USA’s Carson Foster in third at the La Defense Arena.
Great Britain’s Max Litchfield finished fourth, marking his third consecutive Olympics in the event, but set a new British record with a time of 4:08.85.
The 22-year-old Marchand, a rising star and one of the pre-Games favorites, was cheered on by a passionate crowd. He fell just short of his own world record but surpassed the Olympic best set by Michael Phelps in 2008.
Coached in the US by Phelps’ former mentor Bob Bowman, Marchand had sought Phelps’ guidance before the last Olympics. Phelps was present in the arena to witness the victory.
Marchand will also compete in the 200m medley, 200m butterfly, and 200m breaststroke.
‘An atmosphere like no other’
Tickets to see Léon Marchand have been highly coveted in Paris.
As he entered the arena, the French tricolores waved enthusiastically, and the national anthem had been belted out well before the start of the final in eager anticipation.
During the breaststroke leg, the crowd chanted “Allez” in unison as Marchand’s head bobbed above the water, creating an unparalleled atmosphere. The roar when he clinched his first Olympic gold was deafening.
Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Max Litchfield, visibly dejected, remained in the pool with his head in his hands, marking another tough moment for the Briton.