As French fans cheer every stroke, Marchand sets the fastest time in the men’s medley

PAUL NEWBERRY, Associated Press

20 minutes ago

Leon Marchand of France competes in a series of events in the men’s 400-meter medley relay during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

NANTERRE, France (AP) — Amid cheers from the crowd, Leon Marchand began the Olympic Games in his home country on Sunday by setting the fastest time in the preliminary rounds of the 400-meter medley.

The 22-year-old Marchand was the fastest in his series, tapping the ball in a time of 4 minutes and 8.30 seconds, as some 15,000 fans in the La Defense Arena cheered every stroke.

It was a comfortable performance for the French phenom, who has been compared to Michael Phelps and who has the same coach, American Bob Bowman, who guided Phelps to his astonishing 23 Olympic gold medals.

Marchand is looking for his first gold and will be a big favorite in the evening final. He was more than a second ahead of Britain’s Max Litchfield (4:09.51), who was followed by Japan’s Daiya Seto (4:10.92) and America’s Carson Foster (4:11.07).

The big question going into the final: Can Marchand break his own world record of 4:02.50? He claimed that time last year at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, breaking a record held by Phelps for 15 years.

The reigning Olympic champion, 30-year-old Chase Kalisz of the USA, failed to reach the final after posting only the eleventh fastest time (4:13.36).

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games