“Come on children of the fatherland, the day of glory has arrived.” In Fukuoka, the day of glory turned into golden days. The Marseillaise sounded four times in this 10,000-seat Japanese enclosure. A first – or almost – in the history of the Worlds for the France team.
He was expected. It came. He won. For his first race of the championships, Léon Marchand easily won the 400m medley. A victory in 4’02”50 and a world record. The young man of just 21 years old (he had them on May 17) erases Michael Phelps from the shelves, who here loses his last individual world record. Excuse a bit. The tone is set. Already double world champion in medley last year in Budapest, the Toulousain will repeat the same feat. He won the 200m in 1’54”82 and took the European record. Add to that a title in the 200m butterfly, where he took second place a year ago. A time of 1’52”43 for those who train in the United States and a new French record. At only 21 years old, Léon Marchand has already entered the history of the France team. He is the first athlete (men and women combined) to win three titles in the same edition. He is also the first to win five crowns in total. All in just two championships.
“Yeah that’s cool! I saw (this statistic), it’s great and I think it’s only the beginning,” joked the man who skipped the 200m breaststroke during these Worlds. Focused on his second world championships, the man with three titles in three individual races is now turning to the Paris Games. “It’s a great preparation, concedes the student of Bob Bowman. What I’m doing at the moment is great for managing pressure, how to swim faster in finals in the evening and how I have fun. I have a lot of fun swimming and I think it will be the same in a year.” Aligned on the 4×200 meter relay as the last swimmer, Léon Marchand made a final cannon pass, allowing the Blues to move up to fourth place.
Already a multi-medalist at the world championships, Maxime Grousset showed the full extent of his talent in Japanese waters, winning his first individual title. In bronze on the 50m butterfly, with a new French record at stake, and on the queen distance, the 24-year-old swimmer won the 100m butterfly, he who is however a novice in the discipline. “This is the first time that I have swum a 100m butterfly in an international championship, concedes the new French record holder for the distance. I went there without preconceptions, I trusted myself, I felt strong so I went all out.
During this race, the native of Nouméa in New Caledonia was able to take advantage of the absence of two favorites of the event: Kristof Milak and Caeleb Dressel. “They weren’t there, that sure left me with a little more open door,” smiles the one who now trains in the Paris region. If they are there (in the future), I will do everything to beat them and we will see. I hope to make further progress in the 100m butterfly and do wonders.” At 24, Maxime Grousset still has room for improvement and is aware of it, but no longer wants to hide his ambition. “(I want) to win the Olympics! I always said it. I am realizing my dreams little by little and I hope to realize my biggest dream in a year.”
Four titles won individually by Léon Marchand and Maxime Grousset, who won the six French medals. A first in the history of the France team. Never before had the Tricolores won four gold medals in individual races. It is also the first time that the Blues have been on the podium in the three butterfly events. Maxime Grousset also made history by becoming the first French swimmer to win four medals in four different events.
This Sunday, for the last day of the world championships, the French team will have the opportunity to increase its medal count. Several swimmers will attempt to qualify for the 400m medley final. David Aubry is qualified for the 1500m final. These Worlds will end with the two 4x100m medley relays, men and women, where the French teams hope to compete in the final. With six medals including four titles, France is currently fifth in the medal standings. Interesting results one year before the Paris Olympic Games. In Tokyo, only Florent Manaudou had won a silver medal. A record to forget.