On July 31, at 20:42, Leon Marchand completed an extraordinary day in the pool at the Paris La Defense Arena by securing his second gold medal of the day — and his third gold in four days — each setting new Olympic records.
Earlier in the evening, the 22-year-old French swimmer captivated the audience with a thrilling win in the men’s 200m butterfly. The last 20 meters of the race had spectators on the edge of their seats as Marchand, still catching his breath from a last-second push, celebrated a subdued victory before quickly preparing for the victory ceremony.
Chants of “Leon, Leon” filled the arena as he ascended the podium. Thousands of fans sang “La Marseillaise” and reached out for high-fives from the native of Toulouse. Marchand didn’t linger, knowing he had another race ahead. At 20:33, he returned to the pool for the men’s 200m breaststroke.
For the 15,000 spectators in the arena and countless viewers worldwide, it was a moment of déjà vu: another victory and another Olympic record, claimed from the swimmer in the next lane. This time, Marchand let his emotions flow, smashing the water with his fist and breaking into a relieved smile.
“I knew it was possible for me to finish those races, maybe not win them. I never knew that was possible,” said Marchand, who also won the men’s 400m individual medley earlier in the Games. “The double was something I’d been thinking about for quite some time. After the 200m breaststroke, I think I’ve finished the marathon. I’ve done six races in a day and a half, so that’s a lot. And I took advantage of it to enjoy myself at the end of the race and to celebrate because I won two gold medals in two hours. Which is pretty incredible for me.”
Marchand’s dual victories place him among an elite group of swimmers who have won two individual gold medals on the same day, joining East Germany’s Kornelia Ender, Australia’s Frederick Lane, and Hungary’s Alfred Hajos. His feat is particularly remarkable given the diverse strokes involved, as breast and butterfly strokes require different skill sets.
“He’s young, hungry, and willing to hurt for it,” said Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook, who finished second to Marchand in the 200m breaststroke. “It’s awesome to see that next generation of swimming.”
Leon Marchand Impresses Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps, who won two Olympic gold medals on the same night at Beijing 2008, praised Marchand’s achievement. “That’s probably the greatest double I’ve ever seen in the history of the sport. To go 1:52 and 2:05 — the kid can obviously swim, and he’s gonna be here for a long time. He’s gonna make a lot of noise,” said Phelps on NBC.
Marchand’s first race of the evening saw him in Lane 5 for the 200m butterfly, facing tough competition from defending Olympic champion Kristof Milak of Hungary. Despite Milak’s strong record, Marchand surged in the final meters to finish with a time of 1:51.21. Claiming the Olympic title and setting a new Olympic record.
In the 200m breaststroke, Marchand led from start to finish, touching the wall with a time of 2:05.85, breaking the previous Olympic record held by Stubblety-Cook. This victory made him the first French athlete to win two Olympic golds in one day. Much to the delight of the home crowd.
“Every time I took a breath, I [could] hear this huge noise,” Marchand said. “It’s kind of funny because I’m a really shy person at first, and I was really in the center of attention in those two races. I was trying to get the energy from the whole crowd, they were amazing to me. They were really pushing me in every final. I think I did really well in those two finals, to be able to have my energy throughout the night. And I was able to push it as fast as possible.”
The Versatility of Leon Marchand
Marchand’s versatility in both breaststroke and butterfly strokes showcases his exceptional talent. Rivals like Stubblety-Cook and the Netherlands’ Caspar Corbeau respect his prowess, even if they wouldn’t attempt his combination of events. “No way,” Stubblety-Cook said about trying butterfly races, while Corbeau admitted, “He’s obviously one of the most talented to ever do it. I’ve been racing him since 2019 at the junior level. He was spectacular there and he’s continued to grow and accumulate more medals and have more success. I’m grateful to race against him and ultimately to call him a friend.”
As Marchand continues to shine, he represents the future of swimming, inspiring fans and competitors alike with his remarkable achievements at Paris 2024.
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