Ledecky & Marchand win gold on epic night in the pool
Katie Ledecky won a record-equalling eighth Olympic gold medal after France’s Leon Marchand sent an ear-splitting La Defense Arena into raptures on an epic night in the pool in Paris.
American Ledecky, 27, added to her legendary status by dominating her rivals to retain her 1500m freestyle title in an Olympic record time – and equal compatriot Jenny Thompson as the most successful female swimmer in Games history.
It was Ledecky’s 12th medal overall, giving her an identical record to Thompson, whose eight golds, three silvers and one bronze came between 1992 and 2004.
Earlier, home favourite Marchand kept up his bid for four golds by securing his second title of the Games in the 200m butterfly.
The 22-year-old from Toulouse, one of the poster boys of Paris 2024, reeled in reigning champion and world record holder Kristof Milak of Hungary on the final length in an extraordinary atmosphere.
The 15,000-capacity indoor arena has already been described as the loudest and best swimming venue in recent memory, but the volume increased to truly incredible levels as Marchand overhauled Milak in the final strokes with the crowd on its feet.
He won in an Olympic record time of one minute 51.21 seconds – the third fastest ever in the 200m butterfly.
There could be more success because Marchand will swim again in the 200m breaststroke final at 21:31 BST, less than two hours after touching the wall, as he attempts the rare feat of winning two Olympic golds in one swimming session.
