PARIS—Home hero Leon Marchand took his second gold medal of the Paris Olympics and set up the possibility of an unprecedented same-day 200 metres butterfly and breaststroke double at a pulsating La Defense Arena.
The Paris 2024 poster boy took the 200 butterfly title in Olympic record time and, roared on by his fans, beat Hungary’s world record holder and reigning champion Kristof Milak into second place.
Canada’s Ilya Kharun took the bronze in a race led by Milak until the final length when he was overpowered by his 22-year-old opponent in a thrilling duel to the wall in a deafening atmosphere with the crowd reaching a crescendo.
Milak had looked too far ahead to catch in 50 metres but, with the crowd lifting Marchand and a whole nation watching in suspense, the Frenchman shrugged off the pressure and pulled off an almighty comeback.
The winning time of one minute 51.21 was the third fastest ever in the discipline.
The Frenchman, who had the Arena rocking when he won the 400 Individual Medley on Sunday and could yet end up with four golds, will be chasing his third title later in the 200 breaststroke final.
No Olympic swimmer - not even U.S. great Michael Phelps who had the same coach as the Frenchman - has ever won the two events, but Marchand will start the breaststroke from lane four after qualifying with the fastest time.
He could make history even without winning the breaststroke as no swimmer has won medals in butterfly and breaststroke at the same Olympics.
Marchand was unable to rest fully between the races, with the butterfly medal ceremony scheduled in between.
The Frenchman still soaked up the moment, beaming as the crowd roared out the “Marseillaise” national anthem with its refrain of “Marchons, marchons” (‘Let’s march, let’s march’) sounding the same as his name.
He made a quick exit afterwards, while Milak and Kharun sauntered around the pool, and did not stop to speak with reporters.
