At the swimming world championships in Japan on Sunday, France’s Leon Marchand broke Michael Phelps’ final standing world record by winning the men’s 400m individual medley.
21-year-old Leon Marchand beats Phelps’ record by over a second with a time of 4 minutes, 02.50 seconds.
The swimming world record that Phelps set in 2008 in Beijing, at 4:03.84, has been standing ever since.
Marchand, who will serve as one of the faces of the upcoming Paris Olympics, declared that “the best is yet to come.”
Speaking further he said, “It was insane. That was one of the most painful things I did. That was amazing to do it here. The time is crazy.”
Marchand was presented with his gold by Phelps, the all-time most decorated Olympian with a record 28 medals.
The American legend, according to Marchand, was “impressed by the time” and encouraged him to keep becoming better.
“He was commentating the race so it was pretty cool to see that,” said Marchand, who is coached by Phelps’s former mentor Bob Bowman.
“He told me so many things to improve for next time.”
Notably, Marchand took first place ahead of Daiya Seto of Japan, who took third in 4:09.41, and American Carson Foster, who finished in 4:06.56.
At the world championships in Budapest last year, Marchand finished the 400 IM in second-fastest time ever (4:04.28).
This week in Fukuoka, Marchand will defend his world championship in the 200-meter individual medley.
Although his participation in the 200m breaststroke is still up in the air, he will also swim in the 200m butterfly.
- Tags: Bob Bowman, Daiya Seto, Fukuoka, Leon Marchand
