Why Leon Marchand “ONLY” Went 1:46.91 in the 200 Breast Final

2023 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Leon Marchand had a historic weekend, capping it off with a 1:46.91 in the 200 Breast to become the first man to swim under the 1:47 barrier. It’s important to remember that while this may not have been *as* sensational as Leon’s other swims, this is still an incredible swim and the fastest performance in history.

Leon swam the fastest performance ever in 6 different events over the course of 72 hours, which makes some people (everyone) tired. So as he moved through the meet, I’m sure he was feeling not quite as fresh as he was one day 1 or 2 (or 3, especially after swimming a 3:28 400 IM).

So hats off to Leon for making history and here’s to what is hopefully many more historic swims.

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formerswimmer
1 year ago

pretty dumb article 👍

Teddy
Reply to  formerswimmer
1 year ago

Each article is a chance for us to chat about things. If they don’t put out any articles I’m sure you’d whine about that, but you’d have nowhere to put your dumb comments

Definitely Not Sun Yang
Reply to  Teddy
1 year ago

The real article is the friends we made along the way

MTK
1 year ago

He was 49.2 flying start on a relay, which is ridiculously fast, and translates to probably 49.8ish from a flat start. But how much faster than 1:46.9 can you really go with 49.8 as your 100 time? 1:46.9 is basically double + 7 seconds of his 100 – pretty close to a ceiling there I have to think.

Last edited 1 year ago by MTK
nealnan
Reply to  MTK
1 year ago

He did go out a little to fast in the 200 Breast and 200IM, so I actually think there is room for improvement. Here come the down votes!

Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

Same as Douglass. There were unrealistic expectations in breaststroke. I’ll post the same theme as last week…was he supposed to glide a half second faster per 50? It’s the slowest discipline so even the fastest are not capable of a missing gear. Contrast to the individual medleys where traditionally you’re going slower than a specialist would in every leg. Defy that by swimming some like a true specialist, while tightening the gaps everywhere else, and big chunks are available.

Marchand went a few tenths faster than I thought he would.

Cold Tub
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

Actually a good comment from you, congrats

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

Rowdy Gaines is insufferable with his World Record (LCM) predictions at the World Aquatics Championships as is his NCAA Record predictions at the NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championships.

Just shut up, call the race, pay attention to the entire field and not only one swimmer.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Does Leon Marchand dump the M 200 FL in lieu of the M 200 BR at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships? Kristof Milak is a terror in the M 200 FL and Leon Marchand was more than 3 seconds back.

Admin
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Yeah but the 200 breaststroke has an active World Record holder in the prime of his career…

snailSpace
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

..So does the 200 fly??

Sub13
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

Fukuoka has the 200 breast immediately before the 4×200 relay which presumably France will expect Marchand to contribute to. The 200 fly is in a different session so he could realistically do all 4 individuals.

Paris has the 200 fly at the start of the session, then the 200 breast at the end followed immediately by the 4×200 relay. It seems that at least in Paris he will have to choose one or the other, and the 200 fly fits better if he’s planning to swim the relay.

Eric Angle
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago
Last edited 1 year ago by Eric Angle
Atohitotsu
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

He spoke about this in an interview with RMC sport. 200 IM 400 IM and 200 fly at Fukuoka. Adding 200 breast for Paris.

Eric Angle
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

He absolutely should, except that the 200 breast semi is immediately before the 200 IM final at world champs.

Luckily Paris 2024 does not have this conflict.

Raymond Woods
1 year ago

Let’s see what happens in the long course season if he’s able to make as an impressive statement that he did in short course.

dscott
1 year ago

As a team athlete, Leon actually capped off his weekend after the 200 Breast in the 2nd leg of ASU’s 4×100 Free relay. It was his first event of the meet(finals of three individual events plus 3 relay legs) in which he didn’t produce the fastest performance in history, but :40.55 (done at the knees of Adam Chaney on one side and the shoulder of Jack Alexy, doing the fastest split time in the race at :40.51; the point is it was a roughwater swim) is still pretty decent for at 10th swim across 7 sessions.

Paul F.
Reply to  dscott
1 year ago

Technically, Alexy had the fastest split in the 4×100 FR.. Marchand was second by a few hundredths, though that doesn’t negate the point or diminish the overall performance.

snailSpace
1 year ago

I love that a separate article was posted to basically tell us that Marchand’s fastest time in the event was comparatively slow because he was tired.

RealSlimThomas
Reply to  snailSpace
1 year ago

The equivalent of the kid next to you in class getting an A and saying he didn’t even study

Teddy
Reply to  snailSpace
1 year ago

I wanted to hear more about it. Like a criminal returning to the scene of the crime

snailSpace
Reply to  Teddy
1 year ago

I agree! I was so disappointed with the short article, I wanted a full-on scientific analysis with charts and everything.

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