Marchand, Ponti Crack Top 5 All-Time In 100 IM With National Records At World Cup

2024 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP-SHANGHAI

Leon Marchand did not disappoint in his first finals appearance of the 2024 World Cup series, winning the men’s 100 IM in an exciting showdown with Noe Ponti as both men broke their respective National Records.

Marchand took a slight lead on Ponti on the breaststroke leg and managed to hold him off on freestyle, touching in 50.65 to lower Florent Manaudou‘s French Record of 50.96 set in 2013. Marchand took exactly one second off his lifetime best time set in the prelims (51.65)—prior to the meet, his PB stood at 54.03 from back in 2019.

Ponti, who was less than 40 minutes out of breaking the European Record in the men’s 100 fly, out-split Marchand on fly, back and free, but it wasn’t enough to get the job done as the 23-year-old finished .01 back of the Frenchman in 50.66, shattering his Swiss Record of 51.57 set at last year’s European SC Championships.

With those performances, Marchand moves to #4 all-time in the event, while Ponti is now tied for fifth, matching former world record holder Markus Deibler.

All-Time Performers, Men’s 100 IM (SCM)

  1. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.28 – 2020
  2. Vladimir Morozov (RUS), 50.26 – 2018
  3. Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 50.63 – 2018
  4. Leon Marchand (FRA), 50.65 – 2024
  5. Markus Deibler (GER) / Noe Ponti (SUI), 50.66 – 2014 / 2024
  6. Ryan Lochte (USA), 50.71 – 2012
  7. Peter Mankoc (SLO), 50.76 – 2009
  8. Sergey Fesikov (RUS) / Marco Orsi (ITA) , 50.95 – 2009 / 2021

Placing third in the final was Duncan Scott, who clocked 51.14 to lower his British Record of 51.78 set in 2021.

At the beginning of the session, Scott was victorious in the 400 freestyle, showing impressive form with a big lifetime best of 3:36.35.

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1650 Onetrick
30 days ago

This footage makes me feel better about doing open back-to-breast turns in IM races.

Facts
30 days ago

Ponti would’ve been a top 5 male NCAA swimmer of all time if he didn’t decommit

Zeph
30 days ago

Someone teach Ponti a crossover this instant

Juan Cena
30 days ago

Watching MA next to Pan on that last 25 is so funny

cow from china
30 days ago

I think we forget how insane some of Dressel’s records are sometimes

BR32
30 days ago

Wow Dressel is that good

this guy
Reply to  BR32
30 days ago

Yeah. I kinda forgot about that record. Just nasty. I hope he can come back and break the 50 free world record.

RealCrocker5040
30 days ago

Ponti is underrated bigtime in SCM

Geo
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
30 days ago

What do you think he could go SCY 100 fly?

Kubert Hos
Reply to  Geo
30 days ago

42.8-43.0

Swiss dude
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
30 days ago

Agreed! His fourth & fifth place in Paris just lit the flame inside! But he needs to learn his back to breast turn now!

Dirtswimmer
30 days ago

I never realized how good Ponti’s underwaters were. Looked like he was moving just as fast as Leon on his back and free underwaters!

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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