France’s Léon Marchand clinched 200m individual medley (IM) gold a day after breaking the world record at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
Having clocked 1:52.69 in the semi-finals on Wednesday – obliterating the 2011 WR from Ryan Lochte of 1:54:00 – the four-time Olympic champion was looking to go even better in the final.
In the end, his time of 1:53.68 was a second slower, but still the second-fastest time ever, and enough to finish ahead of Shaine Casas (1:54.30) and Hubert Kos (1:55.34).
“I’m just so happy to be at my highest level right now. I’m just thankful for my coaches and my staff behind me,” Marchand said.
“Tonight was very special. It’s been great to race here.”
Marchand goes for a second individual gold in the 400 IM on Sunday.