Leon Marchand broke the 200-meter particular person medley world record on the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Thursday (July 31). He clocked a exceptional 1:52.61, shattering the earlier document set by Ryan Lochte in 2011.
Leon Marchand’s record-breaking efficiency
Leon Marchand, the French swimming sensation who claimed 4 Olympic gold medals in Paris final 12 months, delivered a superb efficiency in Singapore. His time of 1:52.61 within the 200m particular person medley semifinal broke Lochte’s long-standing document of 1:54.00.
“What’s loopy is that it’s an entire second, and it’s nonetheless arduous to imagine,” Marchand mentioned.
Marchand additionally mirrored on his technique, “Ultimately, I went out arduous from the beginning. However I stayed super-relaxed. I didn’t make many errors.”
His highly effective freestyle leg sealed the deal, incomes him a $30,000 prize for the document, despite the fact that the swim was in a semifinal. With the ultimate scheduled for Thursday, Marchand might additional rewrite the document books.
Notably, he’s additionally eyeing his personal 400m IM world document of 4:02.50 on Sunday, the ultimate day of the championships.
Standout moments from Day 4
Marchand’s efficiency stole the present, however Day 4 featured 5 finals that showcased different proficient gamers. American Luca Urlando claimed gold within the 200m butterfly (1:51.87), a triumphant second after overcoming a number of surgical procedures.
“The idea that I might get again to a second like this. Inside perception,” Urlando mentioned, describing his journey to his first main world title.
Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan defended her Olympic 200m freestyle title, successful in 1:53.48.
“I’ve had an incredible coach, Dean Boxall, to information me by this tough time,” she mentioned, noting the challenges of post-Olympic restoration.
American Claire Weinstein earned bronze (1:54.57), regardless of some US swimmers battling sickness from a pre-championship coaching camp.
Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi made headlines within the 800m freestyle, clocking 7:36.88, the third-fastest time ever within the occasion. In the meantime, a shock got here within the males’s 100m freestyle semifinals, the place world-record holder Pan Zhanle of China (46.40) missed the ultimate with a time of 47.81.
Rising stars
The ladies’s 200m butterfly semifinals noticed Canada’s Summer season McIntosh lead with 2:06.22, whereas 12-year-old Yu Zidi of China certified for the ultimate with 2:07.95.
Within the blended 4x100m medley relay, Impartial Athletes took gold (3:37.97), with the U.S. lacking the ultimate after a Tenth-place qualifying end.
