2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
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The men’s 200m breaststroke took place on day 5 of the 2024 Olympic Games with host country powerhouse Leon Marchand firing off a new Olympic record of 2:05.85 en route to gold.
Behind him for silver was former world record holder Zac Stubblety-Cook of Australia who stopped the clock at 2:06.79 while Dutchman Caspar Corbeau earned bronze in 2:07.90.
For 25-year-old Aussie Stubblety-Cook, ZSC, told the media post-race, “I was stoked with that result.
“To be back at 2:06 is awesome and Leon is like the ultimate competitor, so for me, I was absolutely stoked. I left nothing out there. To see Leon go a 2:05.8, I can’t complain because it’s better than my best.” (The Guardian)
The typically reserved ZSC revealed even more on his Instagram, pointing to a 2023 injury and illness in Paris.
“SILVER!!!!! I could not be prouder 💚💛 The last 6-12 months have been nothing but a wild ride full of highs and lows!
“To come back from breaking my neck end of last year to multiple cortisone’s, starting a coffee business and now dealing with COVID.
“The emotions of all these trials and tribulations, combined with the looming pressure of defending my Olympic title, has been nothing short of a continuous roller coaster, full of doubt, and hardship.
What makes it all possible is the best team behind me and there are no words that can express how grateful I am to those that surround me.
Experiencing a race with @leon.marchand31 in front of a home crowd at the Olympics, memory I’ll cherish forever.”
ZSC is far from the first swimmer to have contracted COVID while competing at the Olympic Games.
Sasha Gatt of Malta, Blake Pieroni and David Johnston of the United States and Lani Pallister of Australia have all tested positive during the competition.
As far as the neck injury, it’s not clear when or how it happened but we’ve reached out to ZSC for more details.
ZSC said after his race, he was prepared well & raced to his best ability & happy with how he swam & was beaten by a better swimmer. This was said on Australian TV after the medal presentation.
But lets not let facts get in the way of a good story.
All athletes have injuries and go through highs and lows, it’s called life. If you stand on the starting block, you’re fully fit ! Please stop with the post race sob stories ! It’s disrespectful to your fellow competitors, and detracts from the real story being the commitment and pursuit of excellence.
Boo I hate when athletes lose then talk about all their issues like its an excuse, booooo
I would prefer they talk about these things when they happen, but as a fan I would think you’d love to have that extra context on performances.
How does he just casually mention breaking his neck what
I like him. He’s a cool cat. The Aussies are beginning to grow on me.
Those breaststrokers. Cut from a different cloth.
Covid-24
The neverending pandemic
Don’t want to take away anything from Leons incredible double because, but an out of shape Milak and sick ZSC definitely helped him in the endeavor
It’s almost like injuries and illness are part of sports. We gonna asterisk all the distance events with Hafnoui and Short injuries and illness as well?
Milak isn’t definitely in his best form to break his WR but getting below 1:52 is a big achievement considering what had happened last year or so
Just to be clear ZSC was not racing with Covid, he had suffered from covid in the week or so before the race and had been taking 5 days worth of medication. This isn’t to say it would not have impacted his performance but its not as bad as the Peaty situation who was racing just as he was coming down with the virus and with heavy symptoms.
He said “now dealing with covid”, and if he had it a week or so ago, he would be past taking medication. I hope Marchand finishes before this catches up with him.
Part of being a great athlete is controlling as many controllables as possible including diet, sleep, recovery, and doing everything you can to avoid illness. Marchand knew what was at stake for him and did everything he could to avoid illness including masking and restricting socialization because any illness would jeopardize his double. ZSC had the same choice and the same access to science and chose “act like it’s 2019” as his illness prevention strategy.
I’m not sure that is entirely fair to ZSC. From what I read the Australian team was masking in common areas, etc.
Fortunately, ZSC was able to take antivirals (probably Paxlovid) for 5 days prior to the race, so he was probably close to fine at that point.
That’s not very fair. You can mask up and take all precautions, but you cannot guarantee you won’t get it.
He swam two Olympic records, and was faster than ZSC’s best time.
Even an “in shape” Milak might never go that fast again
He literally became the second fastest performer of all time in both events and beat world record holders who were right on their best 💀. those were not even close to some kind of Mickey Mouse wins
ZSC would have been faster if he hadn’t been sick but not sure how fast
Marchand still went lower than the best ZSC, as he himself pointed out.
A 1.51.21 200BF is faster than Michael Phelps ever went and less than a second off Milak’s world record which he will probably never approach again. His 2.05.85 in the 200BS is faster than ZSC’s best. And these times were done in the same session and in a pool which is generally considered to be slow. Remember the 100BS was won in a 59.
Peaty would have been 57 high if he wasn’t sick I reckon