2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- June 18-25, 2022 (pool swimming)
- Budapest, Hungary
- Duna Arena
- LCM (50-meter format)
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- Day 4 Finals Heat Sheets
MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
World Record: 1:50.73, Kristof Milak (HUN) – 2019 World ChampionshipsChampionships Record: 1:50.73, Kristof Milak (HUN) – 2019- 2021 Olympic Champion: Kristof Milak (HUN), 1:51.25
- 2019 World Champion: Kristof Milak (HUN), 1:50.73
- Kristof Milak (HUN), 1:50.34 WR
- Leon Marchand (FRA), 1:53.37
- Tomoru Honda (JPN), 1:53.61
- Noe Ponti (SUI), 1:54.29
- Luca Urlando (USA), 1:54.92
- Tamas Kenderesi (HUN), 1:55.20
- Alberto Razzetti (ITA), 1:55.52
- James Guy (GBR), 1:55.54
Leon Marchand isn’t leveling off anytime soon. After an incredible freshman NCAA season at Arizona State under head coach Bob Bowman, Marchand posted the 2nd fastest 400 IM in history on the first night of these Championships. He then came in this evening and ripped the French Record in the 200 fly for the 2nd time at this meet. Not only did he obliterate the 1:54.32 he swam in semifinals, clocking a 1:53.37 for Silver, he would then go on later in the session to crack his own French Record in the 200 IM.
Starting with the 200 fly, Marchand’s performance tonight makes him the #8 performer all-time in the event. He’s also the #3 European all-time behind only World Record holder Kristof Milak, who set a new mark of 1:50.34 tonight as well, and Laszlo Cseh, another Hungarian swimmer with a career best of 1:52.70. He swam a beautiful race, splitting 54.25 on the first 100, then held on very well through the back half, splitting 59.12 on the 2nd 100.
Here is list of the all-time top 10 performers in the men’s LCM 200 fly:
| Rank | Time | Swimmer | Country | Meet |
| 1 | 1:50.34 | Kristof Milak | HUN | 2022 World Champs |
| 2 | 1:51.51 | Michael Phelps | USA | 2009 World Champs |
| 3 | 1:52.53 | Daiya Seto | JPN | 2020 FINA CS – Beijing |
| 4 | 1:52.70 | Laszlo Cseh | HUN | 2008 Olympic Games |
| 5 | 1:52.96 | Chad le Clos | RSA | 2012 Olympic Games |
| 6 | 1:52.97 | Takeshi Matsuda | JPN | 2008 Olympic Games |
| 7 | 1:53.23 | Pawel Korzeniowski | POL | 2009 World Champs |
| 8 | 1:53.37 | Leon Marchand | FRA | 2022 World Champs |
| 9 | 1:53.40 | Masato Sakai | JPN | 2016 Olympic Games |
| 10 | 1:53.42 | Tamas Kenderesi | HUN | 3/27/2019 |
MEN’S 200 IM – SEMI-FINAL
- World Record: 1:54.00, Ryan Lochte (USA) – 2011 World Championships
- Championship Record: 1:54.00, Ryan Lochte (USA) – 2011 World Championships
- 2021 Olympic Champion: Wang Shun (CHN), 1:55.00
- 2019 World Champion: Daiya Seto (JPN), 1:56.14
Finals Qualifiers:
- Leon Marchand (FRA), 1:55.75
- Carson Foster (USA), 1:56.44
- Daiya Seto (JPN), 1:56.74
- Chase Kalisz (USA), 1:56.76
- Hubert Kos (HUN), 1:57.23
- Tom Dean (GBR), 1:57.38
- Lewis Clareburt (NZL), 1:57.63
- Matt Sates (RSA), 1:57.74
Just 43 minutes later, Marchand dove in for the semifinals of the men’s 200 IM, where he roared to a new French Record of 1:55.75, establishing the top time in semis as well. Despite the quick turnaround, his closing speed in the IM was nothing short of incredible. Marchand split a blistering 32.61 on breaststroke, by far the fastest split in the field, then tacked on a solid 29.00 on the final lap of the race, bringing him home in 1:01.61 on the final 100. His backstroke split was also extremely notable, coming in at 28.77, marking the 2nd fastest back split in the field.
The swim makes Marchand the #14 performer all-time in the event, and the scary thing is, when he races it again tomorrow night in the final, he won’t have swum the 200 fly 40 minutes prior. As for the French Record, Marchand shattered it. The previous record stood at 1:56.95, a mark which Marchand set in April the TYR Pro Swim Series in San Antonio.
The new Sun Yang of swimming.
Carson, Chase and Daiya better have at least a 1 – 2 body length lead going into the breaststroke if they trying win. That might not be enough
I think it’s a battle for bronze between Kalisz and Seto. Leaning on Kalisz as he looks generally in better shape. 1 and 2 pretty locked already.
Does Marchand go back to ASU after a meet like this?
Why not, ASU got him to this level so why fix it if it aint broke
I think it’s a fair question to ask if it makes sense for him to continue being an NCAA student-athlete, or just swim full-time as a pro under Bowman.
I doubt France would have brought Bowman to their training camp and Budapest with Marchand if they intended to keep him home. It is pretty clear to see that coming from 4:09 to 4:40 and 1:55 to 1:53 in the Fly he is in a good setting for himself and for France.
I’m looking forward to the 2IM final. If he has a similar proportional season best drop as he has has already had here in both the 4IM and 2Fly, we could see the first sub-1:54 – I think we see a Marchand World Record.
It’s probably not a liberty to assume so. He’s doing really well and responding to incredible expectations the swimming community sort of salivated for after his NCAA performance. One of the rare talents that is exceeding rare expectations.
I’m sure he goes back to train and maybe for school, but definitely see him leaving NCAA swimming and turning pro this year or next. He could potentially win two golds, four medals, and be France’s biggest athlete at a home games. Way too much earning potential even in a non-swimming crazy country to keep competing in college.
He might be the “Silver boy” of French Home Olympics. I think all France spotlights will be on Teddy Riner last OG…
France seems to have great respect for Bob coaching Leon. If he’s able to train in Arizona and then swim for France, why not. Especially with new NIL rules, ie no pressure to go pro
Ok so no coach is in France has what it takes to coach Leon at this elite level (sorry for all the chauvinists out there)
Leon is also a fairly smart guy, he pursued some math/science track for the french baccalaureate which is pretty tough, so I think it’s fair to say he can cruise through classes at ASU while getting to learn some interesting stuff that can take his mind off swimming
Bob Bowman undeniably helped him reach world-class level within a year, so why not stick with what’s working. Turning pro would put lots of expectations on him, while he objectively has not much to do at Arizona in his free time apart from going to class and… Read more »
Leon is holding a 4.0 average at ASU and loves the student/athlete atmosphere there as well as the coaches. I expect he will stay a student athlete until the Olympics get very close. This will not hurt his preparedness for the Olympics as ASU if very good at training for both short course yards and LCM at the same time as this last season has shown.
Honestly, I could see Lochte’s WR go tomorrow night. If Marchand can get that close to MP’s WR in the 400 IM why wouldn’t he be able to do it in the 200. He also swam a 1:55.7, which is crazy fast, 40 minutes after going a 1:53.3 in the 200 fly.
This guy is going to unleash a sick nasty 2IM
I’d almost be shocked if we don’t see a 1:54 from Marchand tomorrow
I’m sorry if I’m overhyping this but remember that article about Matt Sates saying “he could be the next MP” I think if SS was gonna write that about anyone it should have been Leon.
Bobo Gigi MUST be smiling somewhere. Like I said in past posts, Marchand is France’s Phelps.
But he’s training at ASU in a bathtub.
Actually ASU has excellent outdoor facilities. 50meter by 25yard main pool, extra 25 by 25 yd warm up pool and a 25 yard by 25 yard diving well pool
Two incredible swims! One can believe that Coach Bowman has found some new magic for coaching swimmers!
I wonder if Coach Bowman just makes him “re-swim” Phelps’ old sets from his log book 🙂 Anyways his responding really well to the stimulus. His 200 IM time is brutal only 43 mins after a 200 fly silver.
Lochte’s splits 24.89, 28.59, 33.03, 27.49 = 1:54.00
Marchand’s splits 25.37, 28.77, 32.61, 29.00 = 1:55.75 (200 IM)
Lochte’s WR might fall tomorrow, although both his front end and backend speed was much faster than LM.
I think coach Bowman has refined his coahing procedures. I have watched the ASU team develop and change over 20 years and have noticed some changed in how Coach Bowman does things in the four years he has coached at ASU