Leon Marchand Breaks US Open Meet Record With 3:44.70 400 Freestyle

2025 U.S. OPEN

Men’s 400 Freestyle – Finals

  • World Record: 3:39.96 – Lukas Martens, Germany (2025)
  • U.S. Open Record: 3:43.33 – Rex Maurer, USA (2025)
  • Meet Record:  3:45.63 – Zane Grothe, 2016

Top 8 Finishers

  1. Leon Marchand (TXLA) — 3:44.70
  2. Luka Mijatovic (PLS) — 3:45.30
  3. Carson Foster (UN) — 3:45.73
  4. Luke Hobson (NYAC) — 3:45.85
  5. Aaron Shackell (IU) — 3:47.93
  6. Ilia Sibirtsev (UZB) — 3:48.98
  7. Luke Whitlock (IU) — 3:48.99
  8. Jordi Vilchez (OSU) — 3:51.49

Leon Marchand swam to a new personal best and set a new US Open Meet Record en route to a win Thursday night, touching in a 3:44.70. That got under the old meet record of a 3:45.63 set in 2016 by Zane Grothe.

Split Comparison

Distance (m) Leon Marchand New US Open Meet Record Zane Grothe Old US Open Meet Record Leon Marchand Old PB
50 25.31 25.31 26.52 26.52 25.31 25.31
100 28.19 53.5 28.38 54.9 27.92 53.23
150 28.57 1:22.07 29 1:23.90 28.36 1:21.59
200 29.17 1:51.24 28.83 1:52.73 28.94 1:50.53
250 28.78 2:20.02 28.7 2:21.43 28.98 2:19.51
300 28.62 2:48.64 28.41 2:49.84 29.37 2:48.88
350 28.19 3:16.83 28.35 3:18.19 29.7 3:18.58
400 27.87 3:44.70 27.44 3:45.63 30.04 3:48.62

Marchand was out under the record and stayed under it for the entire race. The biggest difference came on the first 100 as he was already a 1.4 seconds ahead of record pace at the 100 mark. Although he was out under record pace, he notably was out slower compared to his previous best time but was able to have a stronger back half to drop almost four seconds from his best time.

Marchand has not raced the LCM 400 free at any major international level meets but notably holds the NCAA record in the SCY 500 free with a 4:02.31.

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Sqimgod
6 months ago

Wish he swam the 200 as well. No way he wouldn’t be a 1:44

Zane
6 months ago

I completely forgot about this! I set this record a few months after placing 4th at Olympic Trials with a 3:45.60. I wanted to beat Dwyer’s 3:44 that put him on the Olympic team. With being .03 different, it was safe to say I hit my max for that season. I was blinded with disappointment at the time, but looking back now I am surely proud of that swim! My best coming into the season was 3:45.98. I descended the whole last 300 and nearly even split it (1:52.73/1:52.90). I think the record was 3:47 before me. Usually US Open coincides with bigger meets like the Olympics, so I figured a 3:45 that would regularly make international finals would stand… Read more »

Friuti
Reply to  Zane
6 months ago

I was blinded with disappointment at the time, but looking back now I am surely proud of that swim!

We call that personal Grothe… (sorry had to) great insight

Cpap
6 months ago

6 Olympians in finals?

Koyam24
6 months ago

Really good. That would put him 5th in Singapore 2025, just two hundredths behind the 4th place — though still two seconds behind the 3rd

With better preparation and a proper taper, we can imagine him going 3:41 / 3.42. That would put him in the elite range for the distance.

Mike Vick no dogs
6 months ago

Leon Marchand is the most obscure person to break a Zane George record from 2016.

Here Comes Lezak
6 months ago

Great swim but a .01 faster would have been funnier.

Please don’t boo me for this

BR32
Reply to  Here Comes Lezak
6 months ago

nah .03 faster get with the times unc

Miranda
6 months ago

I’m now *really* hoping Marchand really does swim the 200 Fly on Saturday. Looks like he’s in good aerobic condition based on these splits in the 400 Free. Not sure he can beat his Olympic time without having Milak next to him, but I’d like to see what he could do on that in a December race.

Babyloon
6 months ago

Imagine not breaking 3:30 when your Leon Marchand. Washed

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 …

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