Léon Marchand Shines Again: Sixth World Title, Star Performance in 200m Medley Final
Dominant Victory in Singapore
French swimming sensation Léon Marchand delivered another commanding performance on Thursday at the World Championships in Singapore, cruising to victory in the 200-meter individual medley. Just a day after smashing the world record in the semifinals, Marchand returned to the pool with the same intensity and control.
He surged ahead right from the start, taking the lead in the opening leg and widening the gap during the breaststroke. With a powerful finish, Marchand secured his sixth world title — and third in the 200m IM — with a time of 1:53.68.
A Star-Studded Podium Moment
Marchand shared the podium with two of his training partners from the University of Texas — American swimmer Shaine Casas, who claimed silver, and Hungary’s Hubert Kós, who took bronze. Adding a special touch to the moment, former NBA star and fellow Frenchman Tony Parker awarded Marchand the gold medal.
“It always burns when I give everything I’ve got — but that’s the goal,” Marchand said after the race with a smile. “This time it was tighter, especially with Shane right beside me. It was a great race. I really enjoyed it again.”
France’s Relay Team Reaches Final — Marchand May Join
In other events, the French 4x200m freestyle relay team earned a spot in Friday’s final. There’s a chance that Marchand could join the lineup to strengthen their medal hopes. The quartet — Roman Fuchs, Rafael Fente-Damers, Corentin Pouillart, and Yann Le Goff — secured the eighth-fastest time in the heats.
“Our main goal was to qualify for the final, so now we can enjoy it and try to achieve something great,” said Le Goff. “We’re underdogs, but everything is still up for grabs.”
Grousset Focused on Butterfly Success
Maxime Grousset, who previously won gold in the 50m butterfly on Monday, has also advanced to the 100m butterfly semifinals. He clocked 51.36 seconds in the heats, finishing 11th overall in a round topped by Switzerland’s Noè Ponti (50.68).
“That was an easy swim,” Grousset commented. “I didn’t push too hard this morning. My turns weren’t ideal — there’s a lot to fix. But honestly, I was aiming for a smooth and controlled swim, and that’s what I got.”
The 26-year-old New Caledonian swimmer has decided to skip the 50m freestyle to fully focus on the 100m butterfly, believing it offers him the best shot at another title. “I simply feel better in the fly. And when that’s the case, you’ve got to give it your all,” said Grousset, who was crowned world champion in this event in 2023.
Meanwhile, fellow French swimmer Clément Secchi narrowly qualified for the semifinals in the same event, clinching the 16th and final spot.
Looking Ahead
With Marchand’s dominance continuing and the French team gaining momentum, all eyes will be on Friday’s finals in Singapore. Whether it’s individual brilliance or collective strength in relays, Team France appears determined to leave its mark at the championships.
