2023 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- March 22-25, 2023
- Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center | Minneapolis, MN
- SCY (25 yards)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- SwimSwam Pick ’em Contest
- Live Results
- Day 1 Finals Live Recap
Leon Marchand clocked the fastest 50 breast split in history last night (22.27), and then less than an hour after clocked the fastest split in history in the 200 free (1:28.42). There is no doubt in my mind that when this meet is over, Leon Marchand will be deemed the greatest yards male swimmer ever. He’s gone full Super Saiyan.
QUESTION for the swim nerds: if Marchand decides to go for an aggressive program (Phelpsian-like) at the Paris Olys, what events do you see him swimming?
LCM is a slightly different story I feel for him (obviously still dominant in some events but his underwaters don’t separate him quite as far in the big pool) The 200 & 400 IM and 200 fly are a given, 200 breast (1:07 on the 3rd 100 of a 400 IM should translate to a pretty great 200 breast), maybe a 200 free (he swims at least half the race underwater in yards so it’s hard to tell how that translates), 100 breast given his sprint improvements this year. But I think he would only wins the IM’s, I could see him getting into the minor medals for some other races but they’re all so specialized in long course now… Read more »
On the nose
He gave an interview to a french radio on March 14th. At the Worlds in Japan , he very likely would swim 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 Fly. But not the 200 Breast. The choice is not completely decided with Bob Bowman but the semi-final of the 200 Breast is just before the final of 200 IM. And he doesn’t want to take any risk. The same program than last year in Budapest. But in Paris 2024 he wants to add 200 Breast. The schedule will be more favorable.
The real problem is in event conflicts: the 2 big contenders for next event best beyond the IM’s are on the same day (200 breast and 200 fly). So whichever of those he picks, I think he’ll have to do that, then 200 free then 400 free in that order of priority. That plus 3 relays of some kind is his only path to swim as many events as Phelps. As for whether he’ll even medal in all of them, that’s super hard, even for a legend like Leon
I totally agree that Leon is living in all swim nerds head. If he flat started he probably would have broken the US open record in the 200 free. He already has the USopen records in the 200 IM and 200 breast. Bowman says his 200 fly would be equally fast but because of the IM is more focused on the breaststroke. That leaves only the 200 backstroke and my educated guess would be he could break that too. We are definitely witnessing the 2nd coming of Phelps but new and improved.
Absolutely great to see. Bobo Gigi has to be absolutely giddy by what’s going on.
Where is Bobo Gigi anyway?
Except phelps had more sprint prowess imo.
But that got better with age. May be the same for marchand
I think he is just simply the best swimmer in the world.
Does Leon have older siblings? Almost everyone I know the later born siblings are faster— if not another Marchand would break the water barrier
No. He just has a younger brother Oscar.
So Oscar will have world records at a young age—
Coleman you’re goddamned right, he is going super saiyan. I don’t think this is his final form.
It does make sense
Inverse Douglas. Don’t ever let them meet, if they had a child, it would be a god.
We should hook them up then
If you currently have kids or close friends trying to make the US Olympic team……You do not want Leon able to gain US citizenship….
At least a good swimming movie ( maybe a rom-com) title, “Leon and Kate”.
Almost already a movie! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_&_Leopold
Recessive genes. The kid would probably be a K-pop artist, or an astrophysicist, I agree they would be good though. Mediocrity would be unthinkable in such a family.