French swimming star Marchand breaks 12-year record at World Cup in Singapore

By Hoang Nguyen November 1, 2024 | 10:42 pm PT

Leon Marchand at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo by AFP

France’s top athlete Leon Marchand has rocked the swimming community after he broke a world record that has lasted for 12 years at the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Singapore.

Marchand, who won four gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, smashed the world record that was established 12 years ago by American star Ryan Lochte.

Lochte, who won 12 Olympic medals, including six gold, finished the 200-m individual medley in 1:49.63 and set the record at the 2012 Short Course World Championship.

At the World Cup in Singapore on Friday, Marchand broke the record as he finished in 1:48.88. He now has eight World Cup titles, NBC Sports reported.

The series concludes in Singapore on Saturday, after several world records have been shattered, notably by American swimmers Kate Douglass and Regan Smith.

The World Cup kicked off in Shanghai, China, continued in Incheon, South Korea, and offers swimmers the chance to earn cash prizes, including a $10,000 bonus for each world record broken.

Marchand, 22, was born to parents who were Olympic swimmers. His father, Xavier, competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, while his mother Celine took part in the 1992 edition.