2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena — Paris, France
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All eyes were on the center of the pool for tonight’s men’s 400m IM final, with host nation powerhouse Leon Marchand cranking out a new Olympic Record of 4:02.95.
He was head and shoulders ahead of the field, with Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita earning the silver nearly 6 seconds back in 4:08.62 while American Carson Foster clocked 4:08.66 for the bronze.
Unfortunately for British swimming fans, Max Litchfield found himself in 4th place and off the podium, producing a mark of 4:08.85 to fall only .19 away from bronze.
Paris marks the third consecutive Olympic Games where 29-year-old Litchfield finished in 4th place.
A small consolation is the fact that Litchfield’s time checked in as a new British national record.
Litchfield was already Great Britain’s fastest 400m IM performer of all time entering Paris, owning a lifetime best and national standard of 4:09.14 from this year’s Olympic Trials. He and Duncan Scott (4:09.18, 2022) represent the only British men ever to have broken the 4:10 barrier.
Comparing Litchfield’s previous and new record, the Loughborough swimmer was slower on the breaststroke tonight but was able to make up for it with a sub-58 split on the final 100m.
| LITCHFIELD’S NEW 4:08.85 BRITISH RECORD | LITCHFIELD’S PREVIOUS 4:09.14 BRITISH RECORD |
| 56.23 | 56.46 |
| 1:03.79 | 1:03.76 |
| 1:11.73 | 1:10.71 |
| 57.50 | 58.21 |
The men’s 400m IM was Litchfield’s only event for these Games.
Reminds me of Melanie Margalis – 4th at 2016 Olympics, 4th at 2017 WCs, 4th at 2019 WCs, 3rd at 2021 Trials in 400 IM. She still has an awesome legacy, as does Max.
Literally thought that pic was Ledecky with a pixie cut for a second
Same thing happened to Alessio Bogiatto in the 400 medley right? or was it 2 consecutive olympics?
Let him swim the 4×200 relay prelims do he can win a medal
The world has seen bigger strategies. He is a three-time Olympian and a national record holder
Cast him as Victor Von Doom instead. Bros about to go on a villain arc.
The swimming equivalent of Raymond Poulidor (second 3 times, third 5 times in the Tour de France)
Yikes
Brutal
Rough but at least GB will likely use him in 800 FRR heats for a pretty guaranteed medal
Think it’s unlikely he swims the relay heats… McMillan and Guy seem certain to be on the relay heats. They’ll rest Richards given overlap with the 100
Question is then whether they use both Scott and Dean or rest one or both of them. It’s then between Bird and M Litchfield for any swim
This might be near the same level as the Bills losing 4 SB’s in a row, gutting
Ugh this might have been his final moment, feel for him.
Truly Emo stuff… 😵💫☠️
fabulous swim but so gutted for him..
Sport is cruel