2023 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- March 22-25, 2023
- Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center | Minneapolis, MN
- SCY (25 yards)
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Leon Marchand continues to astonish in the pool.
The Arizona State sophomore sent the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center into a frenzy as he annihilated the NCAA and U.S. Open Record in the 200 IM on Thursday night, touching in a time of 1:36.34.
Marchand’s time knocks 1.35 seconds off his previous record of 1:37.69, set at last year’s NCAA Championships.
Split Comparison
| Marchand, 2022 NCAA Final | Marchand, 2023 Pac-12s | Marchand, 2023 NCAA Prelims |
Marchand, 2023 NCAA Final
|
| 21.42 | 21.52 | 21.43 | 21.09 |
| 45.74 (24.32) | 45.86 (24.34) | 45.06 (23.63) | 44.07 (22.98) |
| 1:14.15 (28.41) | 1:14.03 (28.17) | 1:13.00 (27.94) | 1:11.73 (27.66) |
| 1:37.69 (23.54) | 1:37.81 (23.78) | 1:38.33 (25.33) | 1:36.34 (24.61) |
Marchand pushed the pace this morning on the backstroke leg, splitting sub-24 for the first time in 23.63, but took things to a whole different level tonight, splitting a mind-boggling 22.98 on back to turn in 44.07 at the 100-yard mark.
He then had his fastest-ever breaststroke split in 27.66, and leaned on his superb underwaters to close in 24.61.
The Frenchman now owns the three fastest performances of all-time, and the only three sub-1:38.
All-Time Performances, Men’s 200 IM (SCY)
- Leon Marchand (ASU), 1:36.34 – 2023 NCAA Championships
- Leon Marchand (ASU), 1:37.69 – 2022 NCAA Championships
- Leon Marchand (ASU), 1:37.81 – 2023 Pac-12 Championships
- Destin Lasco (CAL), 1:38.10 – 2023 NCAA Championships
- Caeleb Dressel (FLOR), 1:38.13 – 2018 SEC Championships
- Andrew Seliskar (CAL), 1:38.14 – 2019 NCAA Championships
- Destin Lasco (CAL), 1:38.21 – 2022 NCAA Championships
- Destin Lasco (CAL), 1:38.32 – 2023 NCAA Championships
- Leon Marchand (ASU), 1:38.33 – 2023 NCAA Championships
- Destin Lasco (CAL), 1:38.71 – 2022 NCAA Championships
Runner-up Destin Lasco of Cal broke Caeleb Dressel‘s American Record in a time of 1:38.10, while his teammate Hugo Gonzalez rounded out the top three in 1:39.00.
Could Marchand podium in 200m breast, 200m fly, 200m free, 200m IM, 400m IM, 100 breast, and 400m free if scheduling wasn’t an issue
In a complete vaccuum where he had absolutely no doubles, I think 200 IM, 400 IM are a lock, 200 breast, 200 fly, and 200 free are likely, and he would have an outside shot at 100 breast and 400 free. tbh I could see him somehow finaling in a 200 back or 100 free
It took 2 years to crack the 1:41 barrier after the first 1:41 was achieved…
6 years to break 1:40,
3 years to break 1:39,
4 years to break 1:38,
1 year to break 1:37
This isn’t how record progressions are supposed to work
Swimming as a sport is undergoing logistic progression for a variety of reasons and we’re living through the most fun part
50 years from now it won’t be this exciting, I think. Who even knows.
3:28 whatever 4IM……..Taking bets
3:27 low to 3:28
Honestly, the 100 split is even more impressive. How would that stack up to the 100Fly or 100Bk tomorrow?
it’s interesting that both freestyle legs today were swam pretty differently than in the other “elite” times. Seliskar’s 50 free split made up 24.5% of the total, Dressel was 24.2%, Douglass was 24.1%, Huske was 24.0%, and Walsh was 24.4%. Douglass’ 1:50.15 was also 24.1%, Walsh’s old record was 24.5%, Marchand’s old record was 24.1%, and Marchand’s 1:37.81 swim was 24.3%.
Meanwhile, Lasco was at 23.7% and Marchand was 25.5% today. Nothing new for Lasco- he was 23.5% last year NCAAs when he swam the 1:38.2 but it’s a pretty big change for Marchand although clearly it worked out
I mildly feel like he didn’t have to push the back stroke that hard, it’s not like he died or anything, but I feel like maybe he could’ve gone a smidge faster if controlled the backstroke a tad more.
But I also know nothing and that was a superb swim.
Totally worth it for that 22.98 split though
Well, can’t say I had “Guy will swim 4.96 seconds faster than Michael Phelps’ PB in a 200IM” on my 21st Century bingo card. And we’ve still got 77 years to go
Marchand 200IM/400IM WR at Paris 2024
sub 1:53
sub 4:00
It could be real. It’s his amazing place that makes you think.
Sub 4:00 yes
Sub 1:53 I’m not sure
1:54-low / 1:53-high
4:02
Keep expectations reasonable… That 15m mark doesn’t get longer in a bigger pool…
Usually Swimswam articles way overstate results like when someone “crushes” a record by :00.09 but this time “obliterate” is a great way to describe it. No mention of Marchand missing on his stroke at the finish and gliding into the wall which cost him at least 1/2 second. Insane swim, wow.