Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Lore & Background

France's Léon Marchand won all four individual events he entered: the 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and the 200 and 400 individual medleys. Eric Goodman from NBC called Marchand's 200 breaststroke and 200 butterfly double win on the same night 'unprecedented'. It was the first time a swimmer had won both these events at the Olympics, and the first time since 1976 that a swimmer had won two individual events on the same night. Pan Zhanle of China won the men's 100 m freestyle in a world record of 46.40 seconds, finishing over a second ahead of silver medalist Kyle Chalmers – the longest gap in that event since 1928. Bobby Finke set a world record in the men's 1500 m freestyle (14:30.67), and the United States set world records in the women's 4 × 100 m medley relay (3:49.63) and the mixed 4 × 100 m medley relay (3:37.43). China became the first country to beat the USA to Olympic gold in the men's 4 × 100 m medley relay since the event was introduced in 1960.

Reader's Guide

The swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics is significant for several reasons. Léon Marchand's four individual golds made him a standout performer, and his double on a single night was unprecedented in Olympic history. Four world records were set, including Pan Zhanle's dominant 100 m freestyle win. However, the competition was also marked by media speculation that the pool was 'slow', as only one world record was broken in the first five days, compared to six in Tokyo 2020 and eight in Rio 2016. The pool's depth of 2.15 metres—shallower than the 3-metre pools in Tokyo and Rio—was cited as a possible cause, along with other factors such as the temporary structure and ventilation issues. The schedule was extended to nine days for the first time, and the event order was adjusted to allow Marchand a longer gap between his butterfly and breaststroke events. These factors make the 2024 swimming competition a notable case study in athletic performance and venue design.

Did You Know?

• Léon Marchand won both the 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke on the same night, a first at the Olympics.
• Pan Zhanle's winning margin in the men's 100 m freestyle was the largest since 1928.
• The pool at Paris La Défense Arena was 2.15 metres deep, shallower than the pools at Tokyo and Rio.
• China became the first nation to beat the USA in the men's 4 × 100 m medley relay since the event began in 1960.