Marchand Opens World Championships With World Record Breaking 400 IM Time

FUKUOKA, Japan-- It was a record setting start to the 2023 World Aquatics Championships as rising junior Léon Marchand is now the world record holder in the 400 IM with a time of 4:02.50 as the world champion in that event. 

Marchand broke Michael Phelps' record of 4:03.84 as he repeated as the world champion in the 400 IM. The record was set at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as Phelps had addtionally held the record in the event since 2002. This is just the start of Worlds for Marchand as he will also compete in the 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke and the 200m individual medley. Marchand is the reigning world champion in the 200 IM and won the silver in the 200 fly last year.

Here's what the Twitter world had to say following Marchand's record breaking performance in Fukuoka.

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE ??
????Leon Marchand beat the longest World Record in the books after 21 years!!!@FFNatation #AQUAFukuoka23 pic.twitter.com/Jkzwmp0xFb

— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) July 23, 2023

These Leon Marchand 400 IM splits need to be framed and hung is a museum... pic.twitter.com/HENMGQ3kj5

— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) July 23, 2023

How cool is this? The star ASU swimmer breaks Michael Phelps' record, and Phelps was the color analyst for this race. Both swimmers were/are coached by ASU's head coach @coach_bowman https://t.co/UhvsYD4QXa

— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) July 23, 2023

Hype Fulfilled: Leon Marchand Destroys Oldest World Record From Michael Phelps https://t.co/EQdZyp64sn

— SwimSwam (@swimswamnews) July 23, 2023

WORLD RECORD

LEON MARCHAND TAKES DOWN PHELPS 400M IM WORLD RECORD

And Phelps is here to watch it. pic.twitter.com/FMVjOb9P16

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 23, 2023

Michael Phelps cède son record du monde du 400 m 4 nages à Léon Marchand avec la classe qui caractérise les grands champions ????

pic.twitter.com/r6wuh0RGB4

— Sacha Nokovitch (@SachaNoko) July 23, 2023

Une photo émouvante. Léon Marchand qui bat le record du Monde du 400m4n de @MichaelPhelps sous les yeux de ce dernier. Une nouvelle page de l'histoire qui s'écrit ?????? #Fukuoka2023 pic.twitter.com/jAv96thxby

— OhMaud (@OhMaud) July 23, 2023

NEW WORLD RECORD!!!!!! ????
?????
???·?????
Leon Marchand

4IM 4:02.50?? pic.twitter.com/aQFNXi2RHC

— ??NEWS (@swimcoverage) July 23, 2023

Leon Marchand crushes Michael Phelps' last world record at swimming worlds https://t.co/jjBPYzLJbd pic.twitter.com/UrN9HLQbLL

— NBC OlympicTalk (@NBCOlympicTalk) July 23, 2023

Michael Phelps presents Léon Marchand his gold medal in the 400m individual medley.

Marchand broke Phelps' old world record and has Michael's former coach, Bob Bowman.

Special moment. #Fukuoka23 | #AQUAFukuoka23 pic.twitter.com/k0KomCylqe

— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) July 23, 2023

French 22-year-old Leon Marchand has broken Michael Phelps's world record in the men's 400-meter individual medley https://t.co/F6OzUc6yYq

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 23, 2023

INCREDIBLE ??

France's Leon Marchand breaks Michael Phelps' last individual world record as Phelps is on the mic calling his race in the men's 400m IM at #AQUAFukuoka23.

(via @NBCOlympics)pic.twitter.com/dT4tU2Kam1

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 23, 2023

LES FRISSONS pic.twitter.com/wDkxC4kLDC

— Equipe France (@EquipeFRA) July 23, 2023

#Fukuoka2023 | ???? RECORD DU MONDE ????

La fusée Léon Marchand a pris son envol à Fukuoka, le Français est sacré champion du monde après avoir survolé la finale du 400m 4 nages et il bat le record du monde : 4.02.50 ? C'EST HISTORIQUE ??

?? Le direct : https://t.co/rm8MstM7rP pic.twitter.com/q2IAfjSo81

— francetvsport (@francetvsport) July 23, 2023