WATCH: Leon Marchand Sets New NCAA Record in 400 IM with 3:31.84 at Dual Meet

#9/1 CAL VS. NR/#4 ARIZONA STATE

  • January 21, 2023
  • Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, Tempe, Arizona
  • SCY (25 yards)
  • 11:00 AM Pacific Time (2:00 PM Eastern Time)
  • Live Stream
  • Live Results on Meet Mobile
  • Meet Preview
  • Live Recap 

Leon Marchand continued to shine this weekend setting a new NCAA record in the 400 IM Saturday while suited up in Arizona State’s dual meet against defending NCAA Champions Cal. Marchand can be seen in the video above in lane four suited up in blue. He gets out to a quick lead and is clearly the first to touch at the 50 mark.

Marchand broke Hugo Gonzalez‘s record of 3:32.88 which he set at NCAAs last year. Gonzalez can also be seen in this race, right below Marchand in lane three. Gonzalez was not suited up and ended up swimming a time of 3:57.92 to finish fifth.

Split Comparison:

MARCHAND ASU V CAL (2023) MARCHAND 2022 NCAAS
GONZALEZ 2022 NCAAS
Fly 22.78 22.88 22.38
Fly 25.97 (48.75) 26.04 (48.92) 26.09 (48.47)
Back 27.15 27.54 27.19
Back 26.53 (53.68) 27.25 (54.79) 26.65 (53.84)
Breast 29.55 30.06 29.06
Breast 29.75 (59.30) 30.60 (1:00.66) 29.84 (58.90)
Free 25.95 25.58 26.21
Free 24.16 (50.11) 24.13 (49.71) 25.46 (51.67)
Total Time 3:31.84 3:34.45 3:32.88

Marchand swam a total of four of the top times in the NCAA this weekend, including going the top time in the 200 breaststroke twice.

His 400 IM here was his fourth event of the dual meet after already competing in the 200 medley relay, 100 breast, and 200 breast. Notably, it was estimated that there were about 35 minutes between his 200 breast and 400 IM.

The #1, #5, #6, and #11 performances in the event all-time now belong to Marchand. He currently holds the top time in the NCAA by about 3.5 seconds.

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ThatsNotHowItWorks
1 year ago

“Video unavailable due to copyright claim by Kyle Sockwell”

talk about showing your true colors

swimapologist
Reply to  ThatsNotHowItWorks
1 year ago

1) exposes Buttstroke as his burner.
2) don’t normal people just stick their own ads on copyright claimed videos and let them run?

Weak.

tea rex
1 year ago

The dude going halfway underwater for 100 yards at the END of a 400 IM??? Sheesh…

Marklewis
1 year ago

Yeah, he should have let the other swimmers finish before celebrating on the lane line.

He was caught up in the excitement which is understandable, but staying in your lane is the most basic of all the rules.

Louiggi
1 year ago

Great product. Excellent performance.
Not talented as mp, but definitely hard worker as mp and jeah.
So much ahead of the domestic and international field, that everyone will have tough time catching him up at his motherland in 2024.
This kid stays healthy next few cycles, we’ll see him break 4′ and goin sub 1.53 in the im’s. It is another solid athlete+coach match up.
No matter, how much we want to see mp and Ryan’s names next WRs, the reality is that world is swimming fast.

BaldingEagle
1 year ago

Marchand’s 400 time would have been the 5th place split at the 400 of the 500 in this meet.

Faulty Touch Pad
1 year ago

Unpopular opinion, but Marchand should’ve been DQ’d for entering the Cal swimmer’s lane before he finished during his celebration.

Faulty Touch Pad
Reply to  Faulty Touch Pad
1 year ago

With that being said, that swim was unreal and I’m glad he wasn’t DQd, but an a-hole stroke judge easily could’ve disqualified this amazing swim, gotta be careful.

Dr Deluxe
Reply to  Faulty Touch Pad
1 year ago

I was thinking the same thing when he got up on the lane line and his left gluteus Maximus was in the other lane. Is dscott still paying attention to this comment section? Since I think you were there and in contact with the officials, was there ANY discussion from them? Did you think that might have been a DQ? Probably home pool advantage controlled this situation . Discussion with Bob and Herbie needed for Mr Marchand !!!!

DKDevil
Reply to  Dr Deluxe
1 year ago

There was a short official conversation after that happened, but nothing came of it. He could have easily been DQ’d for that, but I’m sure the Cal Coach wasn’t going to complain or enforce, which says a lot about Durden.

Dr Deluxe
Reply to  DKDevil
1 year ago

Thanks for the details . Yes, if Durden ok’d that decision and didn’t push it, he is a very cool coach !

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Dr Deluxe
1 year ago

Since when does the opposing team’s coach get to decide if someone is DQed. Swimmers get on the lane line all the time these days and I’ve never seen anyone DQed for it. I don’t think it’s smart to do, but until someone noteworthy gets DQed, it will probably continue.

Faulty Touch Pad
Reply to  Dr Deluxe
1 year ago

This video doesn’t show it, but in the Social Kick podcast video, they show that he falls into the lane after getting on top. It was cut out in this video.

dscott
Reply to  Dr Deluxe
1 year ago

I gotta admit right after the finish (Marchand’s finish) I was a bit … distracted by the atmosphere. I honestly didn’t even notice him on the lane line and didn’t notice any comments on deck about it, though there certainly could have been without receiving my focus. Sure hope it was a learning experience and won’t be an issue in any future, more important races.

this guy
1 year ago

Unreal. The guy is a master class in just about everything but how he is able to maintain his underwaters is absurd. He must have some combination of the largest lung capacity every and the world’s greatest anaerobic system. He can probably hold his breath for 4 plus minutes.

Swimswam follower
Reply to  this guy
1 year ago

Inherited from his successful swimming parents plus an outstanding work ethic.

Swimswam follower
Reply to  Swimswam follower
1 year ago

Plus a GREAT coach that knows a thing or 2 about the 400IM

Dr Deluxe
1 year ago

Don’t doubt dscott on the meet logistics of ASU and Mona Plummer . If it is who I think it is, he knows the inner workings of ASU and all meets hosted at MP. This time was legit and scary fast . If I’m Hugo , I’m wondering if I should just hang it up . If I’m Chase, am I thinking Paris and how to approach swimming against my ASU workout buddy in his HOME COUNTRY ? Big challenges for both guys.

Another thought on Paris 2024. Think about the Marchand press frenzy for him! This could be something of a distraction. We shall see

AndySUP
Reply to  Dr Deluxe
1 year ago

Chase trains with Marchand. I am sure it was not a complete surprise to see him go this time. He had to guess he would be close by what he is doing in practice.

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 and 2023 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. Currently, Anya is pursuing her B.A. in Economics and a minor in Government & Law at …

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