In the semifinals of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on 30/7, Marchand finished with a time of 1 minute 52.69 seconds. He became the third person to break the 200m individual medley world record in the past 30 years.
The modern history of the 200m individual medley record began on 29/6/2003, when the legendary Michael Phelps achieved a time of 1 minute 57.94 seconds at the US Nationals in Santa Clara, USA. He broke the nine-year-old record of 1 minute 58.16 seconds set by Jari Sievinen (Finland) in 1994.
Over the next three years, Phelps improved the record seven times, before reaching 1 minute 54.23 seconds on 15/8/2006 at the Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, Canada. This was Phelps' best result in this event and stood for three years.
American swimmer Ryan Lochte, Phelps' teammate and biggest rival, surpassed him on 30/7/2009 at the World Championships in Rome, with a time of 1 minute 54.10 seconds.
Two years later, at Shanghai 2011, Lochte further lowered the record to 1 minute 54 seconds - a time that seemed insurmountable. This achievement stood for 14 years and three days, becoming one of the longest-standing world records in men's individual swimming.
Marchand competed in the men's 200m individual medley semifinals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore and celebrated his world record on 30/7.
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At 23, Marchand has a complete collection of titles: world champion, Olympic champion, and now world record holder. He not only broke the old 200m individual medley record, but also surpassed it by 1.31 seconds - a rare margin at the world level.
The French swimmer received a $30,000 prize and is expected to win his sixth gold medal at the championships when he enters the men's 200m individual medley final at 6:23 PM Hanoi time today, 31/7.
Marchand was born on 17/5/2002 in Toulouse, France, into a family with a swimming tradition. His father, Xavier Marchand, won a world silver medal in the 200m individual medley in 1998, while his mother is former national team member Celine Bonnet.
At just 23, he has become France's new sports icon. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Marchand made a splash by winning four gold medals in the 200m and 400m individual medley, 200m breaststroke, and medley relay, and a silver medal in the 200m butterfly.
His outstanding performance at the Olympics earned him the title of "the new Phelps of swimming," especially as he is coached by Bob Bowman, following a similar path to the American legend. Marchand broke Phelps' last remaining world record in the men's 400m individual medley in 2023.
Hong Duy (according to Marca, CNN, ESPN)
