Léon Marchand led France's 4x200m freestyle relay team to a silver medal on Monday, August 10, at the European swimming championships in Saint-Denis.
Swimming alongside Pierre Largeron, Sauveur Cristofini and Roman Fuchs, the four-time Olympic champion helped the French team finish second in 7:02.23. Marchand said the relay had been incredible from start to finish, with everyone playing their role perfectly.
France edges Germany, trails Britain
France narrowly held off Germany thanks to a stunning final 50m from Fuchs, breaking a French record that had stood since the 2012 London Olympics. The French team could not catch Britain, the reigning double Olympic champion in the event, who won in 7:01.52.
Marchand, cheered on by a crowd chanting his name at the Centre Aquatique Olympique in Saint-Denis, launched the French relay with the opening leg. He clocked the fastest time of the field, 1:43.76, close to world-record pace and nearly three seconds faster than his previous personal best over the distance. The swimmer from Toulouse posted the best 200m freestyle time in the world this year.
First event of the championships
The relay marked Marchand's first appearance at the continental competition. He had withdrawn from his signature event, the 400m individual medley, because of a hip adductor injury that has made swimming breaststroke difficult. He may swim one or two more relays this week and is set to compete individually in the 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle later in the competition.
