Gold medalist Pan Zhanle of China attends the press conference after the men's 100m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
PARIS, July 31 (Xinhua) -- French swimmer Leon Marchand extended his fairytale run at the Paris Olympics by winning gold in the men's 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly on Wednesday.
In an action-filled night that saw five gold medals decided, Pan Zhanle clinched China's first swimming gold medal at these Games, breaking his own world record in the men's 100m freestyle final.
American Katie Ledecky secured her eighth Olympic title in the women's 1,500m freestyle while 30-year-old Swede Sarah Sjostrom shocked her younger rivals by taking gold in the women's 100m freestyle.
But this night will mostly be remembered for Marchand's remarkable effort to win back-to-back gold medals in races that were less than two hours apart.
The feat made him the first swimmer in history to win the 200m butterfly and the 200m breaststroke at the same Games.
In the second race of the evening session, the 22-year-old set an Olympic record of one minute, 51.21 seconds to grab the 200m butterfly gold ahead of Hungary's Kristof Milak (silver) and Canada's Ilya Kharun (bronze).
Fears that he might run low on energy were quickly banished as he led from start to finish in the 200m breaststroke final to establish another Olympic record of two minutes, 5.85 seconds.
Australia's Zac Stubblety-Cook claimed silver and Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands bagged bronze.
Marchand has now won three gold medals at these Games, having also pocketed the 400m individual medley crown on Sunday.
While Marchand's performances commanded the spotlight, Pan gave Chinese fans reason to cheer with a barnstorming display in the men's 100m freestyle.
The 19-year-old touched the wall in 46.40 seconds, more than a second ahead of Australia's Kyle Chalmers, who took silver. Romania's David Popovici claimed bronze, one hundredth of a second further back.
Pan's time eclipsed his own previous world record of 46.80 set in Doha in February.
In the women's 100m freestyle final, Swedish veteran Sjostrom powered home in 52.16 seconds, 0.13 seconds faster than American Torri Huske, who took silver.
Hong Kong, China's Siobhan Haughey, silver medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Games, claimed bronze in 52.33.
"I have no more words. This is unbelievable," a jubilant Sjostrom said. "I didn't think I would swim the 100m freestyle, honestly. After the freestyle relay on the first day I told my coach: 'No, I don't think the 100 free is for me. I want to rest until the 50'. He was like, 'No way, you need to go out there and see what you can do, no matter the outcome'."
Ledecky also earned a slice of history as she cruised to victory in the women's 1,500m freestyle final.
The 27-year-old led from the outset en route to an Olympic record time of 15 minutes 30.2 seconds in her pet event.
France's Anastasiia Kirpichnikova took silver in 15:40.35 and Germany's Isabel Gose bronze in 15:41.16.
The result saw Ledecky tie with Jenny Thompson for the most Olympic gold medals won by an American woman. Ledecky is also tied with Thompson, Natalie Coughlin and Dara Torres for 12 total medals. ■
Gold medalist Katie Ledecky of the United States shows the medal after the victory ceremony for the women's 1500m freestyle of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Pan Zhanle of China celebrates after the men's 100m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Pan Zhanle of China is seen before the men's 100m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Gold medalist Pan Zhanle of China shows the medal during the victory ceremony for the men's 100m freestyle of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand of France reacts during the victory ceremony for the men's 200m breaststroke of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand of France attends the victory ceremony for the men's 200m breaststroke of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand of France shows the medal during the victory ceremony for the men's 200m breaststroke of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden celebrates after the women's 100m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden celebrates after the women's 100m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Katie Ledecky (R) of the United States reacts after the women's 1500m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Leon Marchand of France greets the spectators after the victory ceremony for the men's 200m breaststroke of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand (C) of France, silver medalist Zac Stubblety-Cook (L) of Australia and bronze medalist Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands attend the victory ceremony for the men's 200m breaststroke of swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
Leon Marchand of France celebrates after the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Leon Marchand (R) of France reacts after the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Leon Marchand of France celebrates after the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Pan Zhanle of China reacts after the men's 100m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Li Bingjie of China prepares before the women's 1500m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Leon Marchand of France is seen after the men's 200m breaststroke final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Pan Zhanle (front) of China reacts after the men's 100m freestyle final of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Gold medalist Katie Ledecky of the United States attends the victory ceremony for the women's 1500m freestyle of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Gold medalist Katie Ledecky of the United States waves during the victory ceremony for the women's 1500m freestyle of swimming at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
