Leon Marchand wins first European gold in 200m butterfly

Leon Marchand won the men’s 200m butterfly title at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris on Saturday, clocking 1 minute 51.72 seconds to claim his first European gold medal. The 24-year-old Frenchman finished 2.34 seconds ahead of Hungarian silver medallist Richard Marton, with Greece’s Apostolos Siskos taking bronze.

Sportstar reports the victory is Marchand’s first continental title, two years after his exploits at the Paris Olympics. The four-time Olympic gold medallist returned to form in the French capital after recovering from an adductor injury picked up at the French Nationals in June. Marchand said the atmosphere in the pool was “absolutely mad” and that the last 50 metres were the best he had swum in a long time.

Marchand’s gold is France’s first individual title at these championships. He had earlier won a silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay. The Toulouse native will compete in the 400m freestyle final on Sunday.