Leon Marchand 400m

Leon Marchand secured France's first Olympic swimming gold since 2012 by winning the men's 400-meter individual medley at the Paris Games with a time of 4:02.95, setting a new Olympic record. The 22-year-old swimmer dominated the race, finishing nearly six seconds ahead of Japan's Tomoyuki Matsushita, who took silver, and American Carson Foster, who won bronze. Marchand's performance followed a spectacular lead, supported by a raucous home crowd, as he maintained a strong advantage throughout the four disciplines of the race. Although he fell short of breaking his own world record of 4:02.50, his victory has solidified his status as a rising star in swimming and a face of the Games. Marchand is set to compete in additional events, including the 200-meter butterfly and breaststroke, where he is also a strong contender for medals.