In aquatic competition, Léon Marchand breaks the 200m record with a time of 4 seconds, while Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh set new records in separate categories.
From Quadruple Gold Medalist Léon Marchand's Perspective, it's Not Always About the Wins
Léon Marchand, a four-time Olympic champion, returned to competition last weekend at the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a nearly six-month hiatus due to shoulder and rib injuries. Despite not securing the top spot, he placed second in the 200m individual medley, losing to his training partner Shaine Casas, whom he had outshone at the Paris Olympics. Léon intentionally withdrew from the 200m breaststroke to concentrate on this event, clocking in at 1'57"27, just missing the victory as the American winner crossed the finish line in 1'56"52.
Determined to excel in this stroke, Léon is dedicated to fine-tuning his performances ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. To mix things up and test himself, he also took third place in the 400m freestyle on Thursday and struggled in the 200m freestyle on Friday, ending up in eighth place. He also lost to Bobby Finke in the 400m individual medley, his signature event.
Léon's coach, Bob Bowman, remained optimistic, stating, "He wants to do different things, he had fun, he didn't swim that badly." Bowman added, "The 400 was okay, he gave it his all, and the times were quite good, despite some technical errors that need to be corrected. His turns were terrible. He's not yet competitive at the highest level, but it's good for him to try new things."
World Records Shattered
The Tyr Pro Swim Series attracted a host of big-name swimmers, including American swimming sensation Katie Ledecky, a nine-time Olympic champion. Ledecky surpassed her own world record in the 800m freestyle, achieving a time of 8'04"12 compared to the 8'04"79 she set at the 2016 Rio Games. This was Ledecky's first long-course world record since 2018. She also holds the world record in the 1500m freestyle (15'20"48 in 2018).
Ledecky's compatriot Gretchen Walsh broke the world record in the 100m butterfly twice during this event. In the morning heats, Walsh swam 55"09 to set a new record before improving her time even further in the afternoon final to 54"60, beating Olympic champion Torri Huske.
Did You Know?
Working diligently on refining his technique and adjusting his approach to different events, Léon Marchand is positioning himself as a versatile force ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Léon's attention to detail and teamwork make him a benchmark for other swimmers, as he strives to improve his underwater efficiency and expand his event portfolio.Recently named to TIME100's Most Influential People in 2025, Léon balances external expectations with targeted skills development as he focuses on incremental improvements for the next Olympic cycle.
- Léon Marchand, a versatile force in sports, competed in different events at the Tyr Pro Swim Series, securing third place in the 400m freestyle and struggling in the 200m freestyle.
- Despite not winning the 200m individual medley, Léon Marchand's dedication to refining his technique in the stroke is evident, as he aims to excel in various disciplines ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- In a remarkable display of sports excellence, American swimming sensation Katie Ledecky shattered her own world record in the 800m freestyle at the Tyr Pro Swim Series, further solidifying her position as a quadruple Olympic champion.
