Léon Marchand not winning his race, we had finally lost the habit. But the Olympic champion of the 400m freestyle did not win his series of the 200m breaststroke and butterfly this Tuesday. Nothing to worry about since his times allowed him to easily validate his qualifications for the semi-finals. 2’09″55 and the 3rd time in breaststroke, 1’55″26 and the 6th time for the butterfly: the essential is assured and the impossible challenge starts rather well. Even if the impressions are not the same on the two strokes.
“I tried to manage in butterfly, I was heavy in the water at the beginning, I saw that I was not leading my series so I tried to get going again but it was not easy, the new hero of the pools told us. But I am rather happy. The breaststroke was really good. I started quickly and relaxed before the end so it was perfect. It’s a good morning.” In 1’53″92, Kristof Milak reminded us that he remains the favorite in the butterfly especially since he will not have the efforts of the 200m breaststroke in his legs.
Merchant qualified without being dominant in the 200m butterfly
He is one of the favorites in the breaststroke
“There’s no need to worry,” says Julien Issoulié, the DTN of French swimming. “Léon was in good shape this morning. Yes, he was a bit heavy in the butterfly but he had to get used to it again, get into a new racing pattern.” “I’m used to seeing him more airy in the butterfly,” confirms our consultant Alain Bernard. “Unconsciously, the 200 breaststroke sequence was perhaps running through his head. Today, for me, he’s one of the favourites in the breaststroke. In the butterfly, it will be more complicated but the podium is possible.”
If the Frenchman wins two medals on Wednesday, 70 minutes apart on both distances, it will remain a unique feat. No one has ever achieved it, not even Michael Phelps. If the two medals are gold, we will probably have to find other superlatives to characterize Marchand’s work. In the meantime, the semi-finals are scheduled for Tuesday evening and perhaps we will know more about his ambitions…
2024-07-30 12:58:00
#aerial #breaststroke #slightly #heavy #pap #Léon #Marchand #dream #double
