Léon Marchand won the 400m medley final with a new French record to boot, his third success during the Chinese stage of the short course World Cup on Sunday in Shanghai.
The four-time French Olympic champion won in 4:00.03, smashing Jérémy Stravius’ French 25m pool record established in 2012 by almost six seconds (4:06.85).
He beat Italy’s Alberto Razzetti (4:01.51) and New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt (4:05.03).
The 22-year-old from Toulouse, who won five medals at the Paris Olympics, including four gold, must then (at 1:27 p.m. Paris time) take part in another final in the 200m breaststroke, for the last day of his return to competition.
Friday and Saturday, Marchand has already won two finals, in the 100m and 200m medley. By each time beating the French record for the distance (and even the European record for the 200m medley).
After resting, the hero of the pools of the Paris Games returns to China and must then participate in the next two stages of the World Cup in the 25m pool, in Incheon (South Korea, from October 24 to 26 ) and Singapore (October 31-November 2).
Enough to best prepare for the World Championships in the 25m pool, in Budapest from December 10 to 15.