In the long history of Olympic swimming, no athlete has ever won medals in both butterfly and breaststroke—until now. On Wednesday at Paris La Défense Arena, Léon Marchand made history by accomplishing this remarkable feat in just 116 minutes, securing two gold medals with Olympic-record swims.
Marchand’s first event, the 200-meter butterfly, took place at 8:38 p.m. He overcame Hungarian swimmer Kristof Milak in the final stretch, finishing with a triumphant performance that included gestures of celebration as he waved to the crowd after exiting the pool. Shortly after, he moved to a warm-down pool, which later transformed into a warm-up area for his next race.
At 10:32 p.m., Marchand competed in the 200-meter breaststroke, leading the event wire-to-wire and clinching his third gold medal of the 2024 Games. His celebration included slapping the water and raising both arms in triumph, as he absorbed the significance of his achievements on the podium.
Marchand entered these Olympics as a hopeful for the host nation. His success on Wednesday night solidified his status as a prominent figure in swimming history. “King Léon!” exclaimed a French commentator, highlighting his impressive performance.
Reflecting on his unprecedented achievement, Marchand stated, “I knew it was possible for me to do [both] — but just to finish those races, maybe not win them.” He admitted surprise at his own accomplishments.
This historic double was so unusual that the two finals had originally been scheduled back-to-back on Wednesday night. The butterfly event features an out-to-in motion above water, while the breaststroke requires an in-to-out motion underwater. Since the butterfly was introduced to the Olympic program in 1956, no swimmer had previously medaled in both events at such a high level. The closest was American Mary Sears, who won bronze in the inaugural 100 fly but finished seventh in the 200 breast.
Marchand, often referred to as “the new monster” and “the Next Michael Phelps,” embraced the challenge. He recognized the rarity of this double, stating, “There are not many people who try this double; it’s a bit weird. But I like weird.”
His team worked to adjust the event schedule, as organizers had never encountered a high-level swimmer competing in both the 200 breaststroke and 200 butterfly at the Olympics. They ultimately agreed to move the 200 breaststroke toward the end of the night, making the double possible.
At just 22 years old, Marchand trained rigorously under coach Bob Bowman, known for his long-standing mentorship of Phelps, at Arizona State University. Over the past year, he prepared for what would become one of the most ambitious nights in Olympic swimming. “I’ve done way, way more difficult [doubles], I think, in the NCAA season,” he noted.
Marchand qualified first in both events, noting, “My vision was blurred… I should have eaten something.” However, he expressed his enjoyment of back-to-back races in intense competitions. After winning the 400-meter individual medley earlier in the week, he committed to this historic double, which required six swims totaling 1.2 kilometers over 36 hours.
On Tuesday, he completed both races during the prelims and semifinals, finishing first in each heat. Competitors spoke highly of him, and teammates likened him to mythical figures. “He’s Poseidon,” said French backstroker Yohann Ndoye Brouard. “I swear, he’s Aquaman.”
On Wednesday night, Marchand faced a challenging race in the butterfly event. He trailed Milak at the 50, 100, and 150-meter marks but surged ahead, finishing 1.26 seconds faster than Milak in the final stretch. The crowd’s support fueled his victory, and he remarked, “I could hear the whole pool going crazy… that’s why I was able to win that race.”
Despite the overwhelming emotions, Marchand maintained his focus. After the butterfly race, he appeared for the medal ceremony at 9:34 p.m. By 9:40, he took a celebratory selfie before preparing for the breaststroke event.
At 10:50 p.m., Marchand stepped onto the top step of the podium again, expressing gratitude and satisfaction. “And that,” he said, “is quite incredible,” acknowledging the significance of his unprecedented double win in two hours.
