Singapore 2025: Marchand takes world 200m IM gold as Popovici lowers his European record in regaining 100m freestyle title

France’s Leon Marchand followed up his monumental world record in the men’s 200m individual medley semi-finals by winning his sixth world gold on a day when Romania’s 20-year-old David Popovici regained the world 100m freestyle title, lowering his European record to 46.51 – just 0.11 off the world mark.

Marchand, 23, who had clocked 1:52.59 to take 1.31sec off the previous record of 1:54.00 set by Ryan Lochte of the United States in 2011, contented himself with a time of 1:53.68 to earn this title for a third time.

Silver went to Shaine Casas of the United States in 1:54.30 and Hungary’s Olympic 200m backstroke champion Hubert Kos took bronze in 1:55.34, with Britain’s Duncan Scott fourth in 1:56.32.

Reflecting on his overall performance in the 200m IM, Marchand old World Aquatics: “Yeah, I felt so excited yesterday that I couldn’t sleep, so I was enjoying the moment too, yesterday a lot. So I think I lost a lot of energy yesterday night, but it was my goal to break the record, so I was really happy with it. And then today was a different mood. I would say I was going for the title.

“It was a bit tough today… but it was great. Honestly, it was really fun, I enjoyed it again. I tried to relax a bit, watched some videos, read a little, tried to calm down… but it wasn’t easy. I think I got up around 12.30 today, so it took the whole day to really wake up.

“It was a bit rough, especially before a final — there’s still a title on the line. I know Shaine always goes out super fast, so I knew I wouldn’t be far off from him. It was a battle all the way to the end, so that was cool for me.”

Speaking about the aftermath of his world record performance, he added: “The thing is, falling asleep in 30 minutes? Impossible. After the race, I missed the train — I just kept thinking about everything. I replay the race in my head, go over the conversations I had with my family, the coaches, and all that.

“It’s still a whole new challenge. I know I’ve gained a lot of power, but I’m not sure yet if it makes a big difference over the 400. We’ll see…”

Nicolas Castel, head coach of the France team, commented: “It’s another big performance from Léon tonight. It was a very well-executed race, controlled from start to finish. It’s also his third title in the 200-metre individual medley, which shows how consistent he is at the highest level.

He used up a lot of energy yesterday to go after that record – it took a toll. He had trouble falling asleep after the race, the excitement was still there. So we had to adjust his schedule this morning and let him sleep in to recover as best as possible.”

It was a second European record in just over a month for Popovici, who improved his own mark of 46.86 – set three years ago in winning his first world title at this event – to 46.71 to earn the European Aquatics U23 100m freestyle title in Samorin’s outdoor pool on June 28.

With his latest swim – which was also a Championship record – he has completed the freestyle double in Singapore, having already won the men’s 200m freestyle in which he is the Olympic champion. He has thus replicated his startling showing at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Rome.

And the articulate young Romanian is even closer to the world record of 46.40 set by his Chinese rival Pan Zhangle in winning the Paris 2024 100m freestyle, in which Popovici took bronze…

Popovici was followed home by Jack Alexy of the United States in 46.92, with bronze going to Australia’s Kyle Chalmers in 47.17.

“In a few words, I am really happy to be here,” Popovici told World Aquatics. “It is as simple as that. With regards to the race, I think the one who wins is the one who can detach themselves from their competitors. So I managed to build walls between each of my lanes and imagined I was swimming alone. And I delivered.”

On the elements of the race that helped him, he said: “I improved my underwater the most from last year, and what I did differently in the 200 and the 100, especially, was the length of the stroke. These are boring, nerdy facts for swimmers, but for me, it works. Like I said, I am just really happy to be here more than any title at any time.

“I’d say tonight was a 10 out of 10. I’m not one to say that. You never have a 10, but I think today was a 10 out of 10. I’ll enjoy that and I’ll celebrate the party.”

Reflecting on his time, he added: “I didn’t expect the 46.5. That was pretty fast. I mean, I’m also surprising myself a little bit. I’m surprised, but not shocked, because I have sort of scratched these times in training, so I knew what I was capable of.

“It was just a matter of how can I be less afraid of reaching my own potential. So, when I really realised that I’ve got nothing to be scared of and that I’m a good swimmer. I realised I can do this.

“These thoughts (of not being good) crawl up all the time on me, and even on Phelps or Marchand and any other swimmer, athlete, or human being.”

Describing his emotions at the finish, he added: “Well, I heard the roar. I saw instantly that I was first, but I heard the roar first, so I was curious, ‘Okay, what time did I get?’ I mean, that’s a huge roar. Did I break the world record or not? Was I close? And so when I saw that, what time, what good time I had, I was relieved and happy, obviously.

“And frankly, I’m happy that I didn’t break the world record today. I’m happy that I’ve gotten closer to it, but this way I have something to look forward to. And so, that will keep me alert going on.”

Asked what would come next, he responded: “I don’t know, but I usually don’t know. But I know what the next immediate plans are, which is have a big holiday, go on the beach, lay on my back, celebrate accordingly, have some fun, get my motorcycle licence, learn to cook, drive my fast car.

Enjoy life a little – because it’s not all about swimming. So, in order to do this. A happy swimmer, is a fast swimmer, you know?”

Canada’s 18-year-old phenomenon Summer McIntosh was also in record-breaking mode as she secured the second of five titles for which she is contending in Singapore, winning the women’s 200m butterfly in an American and Championship record of 2:01.99 from Regan Smith of the United States, who clocked 2:04.99, and Australia’s Elizabeth Dekkers, bronze medallist in 2:06.12.

Smith also took silver in the women’s 50m backstroke behind her US team-mate Katharine Berkoff, who won in 27.08, with Britain’s Lauren Cox finishing fifth.

Gold in the women’s 4x200m went to Australia, the Paris 2024 champions,  who clocked  7:39.35 to regain the title they won at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka in the current world record time of  7:37.50.

The United States took silver in an American record of 7:40.01, with bronze going to defending champions China in 7:42.99.

Marrit Steenbergen of The Netherlands qualified fastest for tomorrow’s women’s 100m freestyle final in 52.81. Her team-mate Caspar Corbeau was third fastest into the men’s 200m breaststroke final behind Japan’s Ippei Watanabe and A J Pouch of the United States.

In the men’s 200m backstroke semi-finals, Yohann Ndoye-Brouard of France and Hungary’s Kos were second and third fastest qualifiers behind Pieter Coetze of South Africa.

Lithuania’s Kotryna Teterevkova was third fastest into the women’s 200m breaststroke final, with neutral athlete B Evgeniia Chikunova fastest in 2:20.65.

Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics

The post Singapore 2025: Marchand takes world 200m IM gold as Popovici lowers his European record in regaining 100m freestyle title first appeared on European Aquatics®.