2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena — Paris, France
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- Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2
- Finals Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2
Day 2 of the 2024 Olympics in Paris brought the final of the men’s 400m IM which meant the host nation’s Leon Marchand made his Games debut.
The 22-year-old former Arizona State University NCAA champion brought the heat, dominating the race from start to finish, culminating in an Olympic Record-setting time of 4:02.95.
Although Japan’s Daiya Seto was a bona fide medal contender, it was Japanese teammate Tomoyuki Matsushita who hit the wall next in a surprising performance.
Matsushita stopped the clock a 4:08.62, a new lifetime best by over a second, to earn the silver ahead of American Carson Foster who bagged bronze in 4:08.66.
Matsushita is just 18 years of age and tonight’s performance checks the 2023 World Junior Championships gold medalist in as the 4th youngest Olympic medalist of all-time in the 400m IM. He is also the youngest medalist in over 40 years.
Youngest 400m IM Olympic Medalists
- Andras Hargitay (HUN) – 16 years, bronze in 1972
- Dick Roth (USA) – 17 years, gold in 1964
- Gary Hall (USA) – 17 years, silver in 1968
- Tomoyuki Matsushita (JPN) – 18 years, silver in 2024
Post-race, Matsushita said, “I had many challenges to overcome in this competition and I am so happy.
“I just tried to enjoy myself in the moment. All I have to say is it was an amazing feeling.” (Kyodo News)
Quick Hits
- Japan’s Daiya Seto finished 7th in the 400m IM in a time of 4:11.78, despite owning a season-best of 4:09.68 from June’s Sette Colli Trophy.
- 17-year-old Mizuki Hirai of Japan touched in a time of 57.19 in her Olympic debut to place 7th in the women’s 100m fly.
- China’s Zhang Yufei followed up her 100m fly silver from Tokyo with bronze tonight, hitting 56.21.
- Katsuhiro Matsumoto of Japan sneaked into tomorrow night’s 200m free final as the 8th seed (1:45.88) while South Korean world champion Hwang Sunwoo placed 9th (1:45.92) and is shockingly out of the final.
- Chinese national record holder Xu Jiayu looked strong in the men’s 100m back semi-finals, grabbing the top seed in 52.02, the 15th-fastest performance in history.
- Despite being the #2 performer of all-time and 2023 world champion, Qin Haiyang of China settled for just 7th place in the men’s 100m breaststroke final (59.50).
- Two Asian swimmers made it into tomorrow night’s women’s 200m free final. Hong Kong’s Olympic silver medalist Siobhan Haughey logged 1:55.51 as the 4th seed while China’s Yang Junxuan posted 1:55.90 as the 5th seed.
Continental & National Records Through Day 2
- Yang Junxuan (CHN) – national record in women’s 100m free (52.48)
- Chinese Women’s 4x100m free relay – national record & Asian record (3:30.30)
Asian Swimming Medal Table Through Day 2
| RANK | NATION | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL |
| 1 | Japan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | China | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | South Korea | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Kosuke Hagino was 17 years (and 348 days) old when he won bronze in the 400 IM at London 2012.
So would this swim give him World Junior record as well or is he turning 19 this year? Regardless of age, absolutely brilliant swim and congratulations to him and the team behind him 👏👏👏.
Turns 19 on August 1.