Just over two weeks after his exploits at the NCAA Finals in Minneapolis (three titles and as many university records), the tricolor swimming prodigy did not miss his passage in the 50 m pool. On the night of Thursday to Friday, Léon Marchand won the 400m medley at the Westmont meeting in the canon time of 4′7″80. The 20-year-old Toulousain preceded Carson Foster (4′9″69), and the reigning Olympic champion Chase Kalisz (4′13″06), to reproduce the same podium as at the Budapest Worlds last year.
In Illinois, Marchand even erased a mark: that of the Pro Swim series, held until then by Chase Kalisz since 2018. the Japanese Daiya Seto (4′7″92). By way of comparison with 2022, the Frenchman had already made an impression during his first appearance in the 50m pool during the Pro Series in San Antonio, but in 4′10″38.
The trip to the FMC Natatorium marks the start of a quarter that should take Marchand to the Fukuoka Worlds (July 23 to 30), where he will have two crowns to defend (400 m medley and 200 m medley) and could delight legend Michael Phelps with the last record he has left (400m medley) after having come close to it in Budapest last year (4′04′’28 against 4′03′’84 established in Beijing in 2008).