Breathtaking during the Worlds in Fukuoka, Japan, with three titles to his credit (200 m butterfly, 200 m and 400 m medley), Léon Marchand could not work a miracle this Friday. The tricolor 4x200m freestyle relay, of which he was a part, finished 4th, one step from the podium, in the final. Held at a distance throughout the race, France ranks behind Great Britain, crowned world champion, the United States and Australia.
Author of the fifth time of the series, the French relay, which swam in 7′03′’88, did not manage to beat the French record either (7′02′’77). This was initially composed of Hadrien Salvan, Amazigh Yebba, Roman Fuchs and Enzo Tesic. For the final, Léon Marchand replaced Roman Fuchs and set off as the last torchbearer without managing to get a new medal for the tricolor clan.
A swimming oddity at only 21 years old, the five-time world gold medalist could repeat the experience on Sunday in the 4×100 medley relay, if France were to win their ticket to the final.
