Leon Marchand Goes Fourth All-Time In 200 Breaststroke With 2:06.59 In Rennes
Leon Marchand went fourth in the all-time 200m breaststroke rankings with a time of 2:06.59 at the French Championships in Rennes.
It destroyed his French record of 2:08.76 as he became the second-fastest European in history behind Russian Anton Chupkov who went 2:06.12 at the 2019 World Championships.
Not surprisingly, it saw Marchand book his spot on the French team for the Fukuoka worlds next month with Antoine Marc also inside the qualification time in 2:09.68 as seven swimmers punched their tickets.
Splits:
28.89/1:01.02 (32.13)/1:33.70 (32.68)/2:06.59 (32.89)
All-Time Rankings
2:05.95: Zac Stubblety-Cook, 2022 Australian Championships
2:06.12: Anton Chupkov, 2019 World Championships
2:06.40: Shoma Sato, 2021 Japanese Championships
2:06:59: Leon Marchand, 2023 French Championships
2:06.67: Matthew Wilson, 2019 World Championships
2:06.67: Ippei Watanabe, 2017 Tokyo Swimming Championships
Marchand – who won both IMs at last year’s worlds in Budapest – said through ffnatation.fr of his Rennes performance:
“That was cool. I started off a little flat out, I had a little trouble in the last 50m, but that’s normal.
“It’s my second really sharp 200m breaststroke, in this nice pool with a nice preparation, I gain two seconds on my best time, so it’s great.
“I’m slowly approaching the world record, I think I can do it next time in the 200m breaststroke.
“On the first 100m, I couldn’t hear the crowd too much, but on the third 50m, I could hear everyone trying to push. It’s annoying not to be able to swim this race at the world championships because it’s really bad for me.
“With weather like this I could be one of the best. But I’m saving it for next year (at the Paris Olympics).”
Wattel Takes Flight; Fontaine & Kirpichnikova Book 400 Free Slots
Elsewhere in Rennes, Marie Wattel produced a season’s best of 57.34 in the 100 fly to go into the top 15 for 2023 and ensure a trip to Fukuoka.
Charlotte Bonnet and Fantine Lesaffre both booked the flight to Japan in the 200IM in 2:10.64 and 2:11.59 respectively.
Logan Fontaine was inside the time in the 400 free in 3:46.60 while Anastasia Kirpichnikova booked a slot on her first French team, weeks after becoming naturalised after switching from Russian citizenship.
Kirpichnikova swam 4:08.70 in the women’s 400.
The meet runs from Sunday through to Friday.