2023-07-24 10:19:07
▲ The American medalist awarded the young Frenchman. Photo Afp
of the writing
Newspaper La Jornada
Monday July 24, 2023, p. a10
The last world record held by Michael Phelps in swimming was dethroned 15 years later by Léon Marchand, a young Frenchman.
Present at the competition, the American legend participated yesterday in the award ceremony in a show of appreciation for the new champion of the 400-meter medley.
It’s crazy, Marchand said after crushing Phelps’ record. It is most difficult. It’s amazing to be able to do it. These times are crazy and the best is yet to come, he added.
The Baltimore shark stepped out of the broadcast booth and took the time to place the medal and raise a hand to Marchand, who clocked 4 minutes, 2 seconds and 50ths at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Under the watchful eye of Phelps himself, this time as an analyst on NBC television, Marchand gradually increased the distance to leave his main pursuers far behind, the American Carson Forster (4:06.56) and the Japanese Daiya Seto (4:09.41).
With this second world title, Marchand swam one second and three tenths faster than the greatest Olympic medalist in history.
He (Phelps) was very impressed with the timing, the 21-year-old added.
Marchand said he is prepared to deal with all the pressure of the Olympic Games in Paris in a year, where he will surely be the face of the event in his native country.
I think I can assimilate pretty well. I can improve and I have a year to do it.
In this same distance, the Mexican Héctor Ruvalcaba finished in 16th place.
Shortly before, the Australian Ariarne Titmus also set a new record in the 400 freestyle with a time of 3:55.58.
I didn’t have it as my goal in this competition, I just wanted to be able to swim at my best level, said Titmus
The Olympic champion improved the time held by the Canadian Summer McInthosh since last March and achieved her second world crown in this discipline, beating the American Katie Lede-cky, who entered this event with a collection of 33 medals in Olympic Games and World Championships.
It was coming, said Ledecky. When a few begin to achieve it, others will try. It has been a year of very fast times in swimming and it was predictable that they would succeed. New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather completed the podium.
In addition, the Australian women’s team took first place in the 4×100 freestyle, setting a new world record by registering 3:27.96.
Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon surpass a mark already held by Australia since Tokyo 2020, where McKeon and Harris were also part of the squad.
In another final, Australian Sam Short won the 400 free with a time of 3:40.68. Tunisian Ahmed Hafnaoui (3:40.70) nabbed the silver and German Lukas Martens (3:42.20) the bronze.
In the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay, Australia won gold (3:10.16), while Italy took silver (3:10.49) and the United States bronze (3:10.81).
The Mexicans Miguel de Lara (100 breaststroke), Athenea Meneses (100 butterfly) and Jorge Iga (50 butterfly) failed their heats and placed 25th, 32nd and 45th in their respective tests.
With information from Afp and Ap
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