Do you remember how incredible the Marchand Mania was throughout the 2024 Paris Games? The 22-year-old walked away with 5 medals and broke 4 Olympic records. However, Léon Marchand went on a short vacation after his impressive accomplishments, and rightfully so. But if you’ve missed watching him dominate the pool, we’ve got you! We relived that magic at the ongoing World Aquatics Swimming World Cup. 

The Olympian’s journey throughout the meet included several highs and a few lows. France’s Golden Boy had to battle doubts, fatigue, and several factors to rise above his competition. Shanghai and Incheon witnessed the swimmer in his element. But after 2 weeks, the World Cup finally reached its last stop—Singapore. True to his MO, the swimmer went on to shatter another record in the pool. However, this one was different. 

Léon Marchand wreaked havoc on the record books in Singapore

The Olympian started day 2 with a bang in the 200m IM. As expected, he clocked a blistering 1:48.88—a brand-new world record. With this, he shaved off three-quarters of a second from Ryan Lochte’s World Record of 1:49.63, set back in 2012. Before being obliterated, this was the third-oldest male SCM World Record in the books. In a post-race interview, he was asked if the feat caught him by surprise. But Léon Marchand was cool as a cucumber. “Honestly, I was six tenths from it two weeks ago, and I knew I could improve a lot of stuff. So that’s what I did,” he told World Aquatics. Now, which race is he referring to, you ask?

On day 2 of the Shanghai stop, the Olympian effortlessly clinched his first gold in the event. But he touched the wall at 1:50.30. While it wasn’t a World Record, he set new European, French, and World Cup records. This time, he didn’t want to leave any room for error. The Olympian’s new time also lowered the European and French records from Shanghai and was his first record on the short course. Yet, this was his second Triple Crown in the World Cup. 

Léon Marchand continued, “I went a little bit faster in the first 100, and then when I touched the wall, I could actually see the big screen ‘world record’ and the crowd going crazy, so I kind of knew about it.” The Olympian reiterated that he thinks this feat is really cool, so at the end of the day, he was happy. His first short-course world record comes a year after he shattered Michael Phelps’ last long-standing long-course world record in 2023. However, this wasn’t the only record he broke in Singapore. 

The 22-year-old bags his first Triple Crown on day 1 of the final stop

It’s slowly become the norm for the Olympian to clinch gold while breaking records. But every time he does it, it’s just as thrilling as the very first time. On the first day in Singapore, he returned to the pool to contest in the men’s 100m IM. Looking back at his success rate throughout the World Cup, he has clinched gold in Shanghai and Incheon. So, touted as the favorite for the final stop, many hoped he would replicate the same results again.

Léon Marchand surged past his competition and touched the wall in 49.92s, setting a new World Record while bagging his third World Cup title in the event. But wait, there’s more. The Olympian set a new European record and became the first man from his continent to break the 50-second barrier. And just like that, he had his first Triple Crown of the World Cup!

The swimmer had a few close calls in the last two stops. In Shanghai, he locked heads with his fiercest rival, Noe Ponti. The duo battled it out for the gold. However, the Frenchman was .01 seconds quicker and snagged his first gold in the event. How did things go in Incheon? Neither was quick off the block, but they continued chasing each other throughout the pool. Here’s the kicker, though. Both of them touched the wall within 51.00s and shared the gold instead.

The swimmers battled it out yet again during the prelims on day 1. Even though Ponti snagged first place, Léon Marchand was unstoppable in the finals. With his incredible time in the 100m IM, he is now the 2nd man in the world to hit the 49-point time. With this, the 22-year-old comfortably sits in the #2 spot on the all-time list. The prodigy couldn’t shatter the world record on his first try, yet he still claimed 2 World Records and 2 Triple Crowns so far. Will he be able to add a third on the final day of the Singapore stop? Only time will tell.