France’s Marchand wins double gold at Olympics

French poster boy Leon Marchand and US distance dynamo Katie Ledecky made history while the Paris pool saw its first world record on one of the great nights of Olympic swimming yesterday.

China’s Pan Zhanle ended the programme with another firecracker, the teenager obliterating his own 100 metres freestyle world record to take his country’s first swimming gold of the meet.

Australia’s Kyle Chalmers was a silver medallist in the men’s 100 free behind Pan, with Romania’s David Popovici third.

Before that, Marchand sent sound levels off the scale at the La Defense Arena as he pulled off an unprecedented 200 metres butterfly and breaststroke double, with a medal ceremony in between.

Both swims were completed in Olympic record time, a remarkable feat in two of the most tiring and demanding disciplines.

Until Wednesday, no swimmer had managed to medal in both, not even US great Michael Phelps, whose coach Bob Bowman now works with the Frenchman.

Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook, the 2021 200m breaststroke champion in Tokyo, had to settle for silver this time out while Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands took the bronze.

In the butterfly race, he beat Hungary’s world record holder and reigning champion Kristof Milak into second place, with Canada’s Ilya Kharun finishing third.

Unlike in the later breaststroke, Marchand was behind until the final length when he overpowered Milak and surged past to win.

Ledecky also seized her chance to shine, although the win was never really in doubt, as she defended her 1 500 freestyle title for a record-equalling eighth gold.

While Ledecky’s winning time was almost 10 seconds off her own world record of 15:20.48 set in 2018 the effort was more than enough to bring her home almost half a pool length and 10.33 seconds clear of French silver medallist Anastasiia Kirpichnikova while Germany’s Isabel Gose won bronze.

The American now shares the record for most Olympic golds in women’s swimming with compatriot Jenny Thompson, who won eight relay titles over three Olympics from 1992-2000.

Her 12th medal matched the all-time record shared by Thompson, Americans Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin, and Australian Emma McKeon.

She also became the first female swimmer to stand at the top of the podium at four Olympics, something only male compatriots Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte have managed.

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