You are working on Staging1

Trying to Make Sense of Leon Marchand’s 1:28.4 200 Free Split | RACE ANALYSIS

2023 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Leon Marchand clocked the fastest 50 breast split in history last night (22.27), and then less than an hour after clocked the fastest split in history in the 200 free (1:28.42). There is no doubt in my mind that when this meet is over, Leon Marchand will be deemed the greatest yards male swimmer ever. He’s gone full Super Saiyan.

In This Story

20
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

20 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mark Twang
1 year ago

QUESTION for the swim nerds: if Marchand decides to go for an aggressive program (Phelpsian-like) at the Paris Olys, what events do you see him swimming?

Dudeman
Reply to  Mark Twang
1 year ago

LCM is a slightly different story I feel for him (obviously still dominant in some events but his underwaters don’t separate him quite as far in the big pool) The 200 & 400 IM and 200 fly are a given, 200 breast (1:07 on the 3rd 100 of a 400 IM should translate to a pretty great 200 breast), maybe a 200 free (he swims at least half the race underwater in yards so it’s hard to tell how that translates), 100 breast given his sprint improvements this year. But I think he would only wins the IM’s, I could see him getting into the minor medals for some other races but they’re all so specialized in long course now… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Dudeman
Owlmando
Reply to  Dudeman
1 year ago

On the nose

Langevert
Reply to  Mark Twang
1 year ago

He gave an interview to a french radio on March 14th. At the Worlds in Japan , he very likely would swim 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 Fly. But not the 200 Breast. The choice is not completely decided with Bob Bowman but the semi-final of the 200 Breast is just before the final of 200 IM. And he doesn’t want to take any risk. The same program than last year in Budapest. But in Paris 2024 he wants to add 200 Breast. The schedule will be more favorable.

1650 Onetrick
Reply to  Mark Twang
1 year ago

The real problem is in event conflicts: the 2 big contenders for next event best beyond the IM’s are on the same day (200 breast and 200 fly). So whichever of those he picks, I think he’ll have to do that, then 200 free then 400 free in that order of priority. That plus 3 relays of some kind is his only path to swim as many events as Phelps. As for whether he’ll even medal in all of them, that’s super hard, even for a legend like Leon

Swimswam follower
1 year ago

I totally agree that Leon is living in all swim nerds head. If he flat started he probably would have broken the US open record in the 200 free. He already has the USopen records in the 200 IM and 200 breast. Bowman says his 200 fly would be equally fast but because of the IM is more focused on the breaststroke. That leaves only the 200 backstroke and my educated guess would be he could break that too. We are definitely witnessing the 2nd coming of Phelps but new and improved.
Absolutely great to see. Bobo Gigi has to be absolutely giddy by what’s going on.

Meow
Reply to  Swimswam follower
1 year ago

Where is Bobo Gigi anyway?

Owlmando
Reply to  Swimswam follower
1 year ago

Except phelps had more sprint prowess imo.

But that got better with age. May be the same for marchand

Ferb
1 year ago

I think he is just simply the best swimmer in the world.

Distance Per Stroke
1 year ago

Does Leon have older siblings? Almost everyone I know the later born siblings are faster— if not another Marchand would break the water barrier

Langevert
Reply to  Distance Per Stroke
1 year ago

No. He just has a younger brother Oscar.

Christine Breedy
Reply to  Langevert
1 year ago

So Oscar will have world records at a young age—

Kabes
1 year ago

Coleman you’re goddamned right, he is going super saiyan. I don’t think this is his final form.

Kabes
1 year ago

It does make sense

Zippo
1 year ago

Inverse Douglas. Don’t ever let them meet, if they had a child, it would be a god.

Kabes
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

We should hook them up then

Timekeeper
Reply to  Kabes
1 year ago

If you currently have kids or close friends trying to make the US Olympic team……You do not want Leon able to gain US citizenship….

ACC fan
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

At least a good swimming movie ( maybe a rom-com) title, “Leon and Kate”.

Meow
Reply to  ACC fan
1 year ago
NoFlyKick
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

Recessive genes. The kid would probably be a K-pop artist, or an astrophysicist, I agree they would be good though. Mediocrity would be unthinkable in such a family.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

Read More »