Paris 2024 swimming: Leon Marchand dethrones second reigning champion of the day in 200m breaststroke, taking two gold medals within two hours 

In an epic 200m breaststroke faceoff, French superstar Leon Marchand dethroned a reigning Olympic champion for the second time within two hours, taking his second Olympic gold medal of the day in an Olympic record time of 2:05.85 at Olympic Games Paris 2024.

With this stunning performance on 31 July, Marchand became the first French swimmer to ever win three gold medals, and he did it all within four days in front of an electric home crowd of over 15,000 at the Paris La Defense Arena.

He is yet to walk out of a final without a gold medal around his neck and an Olympic record to go with it.

"Everyone was telling me it was impossible," Marchand said after the race, admitting he had his doubts.

But it was his coach Bob Bowman, the former coach of legendary Team USA swimmer Michael Phelps, who "gave me the confidence I was lacking," Marchand said.

Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook went into the 200m breaststroke race as the reigning Olympic champion, but took the silver medal with a time of 2:06.79, 0.94 seconds behind Marchand. It was Stubblety-Cook's record from Tokyo 2020 that the Frenchman broke Wednesday night.

"I was stoked at that result," Stubblety-Cook said after the race.

"Leon is like an ultimate competitor. I left nothing out there so I can’t complain. Silver for me, to get back on the podium after Tokyo, I’m content with that. There is still definitely more. I’d like to get quicker than that," he added.

Many people expected the Australian to kick the race into gear and catch up to Marchand in the final 50m, but he was unable to make up lost ground and ultimately fell short against the 22-year-old Frenchman.

"It’s his moment. He’s hungry. He’s on the cusp of being one of the greatest swimmers. We’re just seeing the beginning," the Australian said.

"Maybe if it was someone else, I wouldn’t be as happy for them, but I was stoked for him to have that moment in front of the home crowd. To see someone achieve that, I can’t complain."

This race, and the de-throning of Stubblety-Cook, came just two hours after Marchand took the gold medal and another Olympic record in the 200m butterfly over Hungary's reigning champion, Kristof Milak.

"It was insane. The 200m butterfly was a crazy rivalry," Marchand said of his first gold medal race of the day. "I use a very good strategy. I succeeded in staying close to [Milak] and getting ahead of him in the last metres. The crowd was on fire. It was insane to live this as a French person. I am so happy.”

Milak still holds the world record in that event, but his Olympic record was smashed by the Frenchman.

So, to put it simply, Marchand won two gold medals, dethroned two reigning champions and set two Olympic records, all within two hours.

And to make it all the more exciting, it was all done at home, in France.

Netherland’s Caspar Corbeau took third in a time of 2:07.90, and was thrilled to have finished within seconds of the former and current champions, saying that it was "awesome" and "surreal."

"[I'm] happy with the result … to see a third place on the scoreboard is really special, and I'm really happy to do that at the side of the best of the world," said the jubliant Dutchman.

Swimming: Men's 200m breaststroke podium

Gold: Leon Marchand, France - 2:05.85

Silver: Zac Stubblety-Cook, Australia - 2:06.79

Bronze: Caspar Corbeau, Netherlands - 2:07.90