French superstar Leon Marchand smashes Michael Phelps’ 15-year-old record

Michael Phelps’ last remaining world record in swimming has been overtaken by French youngster Leon Marchand.

Leon Marchand set the world of swimming in uproar with his fantastic swim where he set the world record in men's 400-meter individual medley Sunday. In the process, he broke the last world record held by the most decorated Olympian in history, Michael Phelps in his illustrious swimming career.

It took Marchand only four minutes and 2.50 seconds to secure the gold medal at the world championships in Fukuoka in southwest Japan. Phelps had held the previous record with a swim of 4:03.84 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"That was insane, one of the most painful things I've done," Marchand said. "It was amazing to do it here, and the time is crazy."

"The best is yet to come," added Marchand, who collected his medal at the victory ceremony from Phelps, who was in attendance as a television commentator.

When Phelps had set the previous world record in Beijing, Marchand was only six years old. It was the legendary American swimmer who presented the 21-year-old with the gold medal following his world-record breaking swim.

Phelps himself had held the world record for almost 21 years, setting a series of increasingly faster times during his stint as the world’s most dominant swimmer.

“It’s excellent, I train everyday for that,” Marchand added. “I’m two seconds faster than my previous record, I beat the world record, it’s amazing… I don’t know what to say, I’m so happy.”

Marchand was under Phelps’ world record swim for the majority of the race and eventually finished first with more than four seconds separating him and second-placed Carson Foster of the USA. He also finished seven seconds ahead of Japan’s Seto Daiya in third, as he secured his third ever gold medal at the world championships.

Marchand swims at Arizona State and is coached by Bob Bowman, the coach of the American team at the world championships. Going into the Paris Olympics next year, he is being regarded as the next big thing and is already the favourite to win gold in men’s 200m Individual Medley.

"I think I can handle the pressure pretty well right now," Marchand said. "It's not perfect and I can get better and I have one year to improve."

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