French Trials, Day 4 Finals: Leon Marchand Navigates Tight Turnaround With 200 Fly/Breaststroke Double
Leon Marchand won the 200m fly before returning around 45 minutes later to win the 200m breaststroke at the French Olympic Trials in Chartres.
The 2022 world champion took the fly in 1:54.08 – well inside the Paris 2024 cut of 1:55.78 – before tackling the four-length breaststroke in 2:08.95.
With that, the 22-year-old added two more events to his schedule for a home Games next month having already punched his ticket for the 400IM.
However, Wednesday was also a dry run for what may come to pass in the French capital with the 200 fly and breast taking place in the same session.
Marchand is the fifth-fastest 200br performer in history with a PB of 2:06.59 but he’s never raced it a top international meet and it appeared that with the two events back to back on the fifth night of finals, he would be forced to choose between the two.
However, it appears now there’ll be more than an hour between the two races so decisions to be made…..
Emma Terebo clinched the backstroke double by adding the 200 title to her 100 gold and national record in 2:08.53.
That was well within the cut of 2:10.39 with Pauline Mahieu – the previous holder of the French 100 back record – also inside the QT in 2:09.28.
Ahmed Jaouadi of Tunisia headed the 800 free in 7:45.31 as Pacome Bricout (7:48.63) and David Aubry (7:49.44) both got inside the Paris cut of 7:51.65.
Aubry booked a second swim of his Olympic programme after having already got a slot in the 400 free.
Melanie Henique won the 50 fly in 25.60 with Florine Gaspard heading the 50m breaststroke in 30.71, both non-Olympic events.
- Link to results/start sheets
- Day 1 report
- Day 2 prelims
- Day 2 report
- Day 3 prelims
- Day 3 report
- Day 4 prelims