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A record night of the greats in the Paris pool
French poster boy Leon Marchand and U.S. distance dynamo Katie Ledecky made history while the Paris pool saw its first world record on one of the great nights of Olympic swimming on Wednesday.
China’s Pan Zhanle ended the programme with another firecracker, the teenager obliterating his own 100 metres freestyle world record to take his country’s first swimming gold of the meet.
Before that, Marchand sent sound levels off the scale at the La Defense Arena as he pulled off an unprecedented 200 metres butterfly and breaststroke double — with a medal ceremony in between.
Both swims were completed in Olympic record time, a remarkable feat in two of the most tiring and demanding disciplines. Until Wednesday, no swimmer had managed to medal in both.
“It was pretty crazy to have the chance to be in the final in both races,” he said.
“And then I just loved it, it was huge.
“I’ve fulfilled a lot of dreams since I’ve been here. Doing this double was also something I felt capable of, but to really do it in the real world is something else.”
With passion, patriotic pride and raw emotion bursting out on all sides, Marchand soaked up the pressure and delivered what even the hype had suggested might be too much.
The winner of Sunday’s Individual Medley started with an incredible comeback in the butterfly after Hungarian world record holder and reigning champion Kristof Milak led the first three lengths.
Milak had to settle for silver, with Canada’s Ilya Kharun taking bronze.
With the crowd chanting his name at every stroke — “Leon, Leon” echoing around the arena — Marchand returned to lead every metre of the breaststroke before touching out in two minutes 05.85 seconds.
Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook, the 2021 champion in Tokyo, had to settle for silver while Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands took the bronze.
Australia’s Kyle Chalmers was a silver medallist in the men’s 100 free behind Pan, with Romania’s David Popovici third.
Ledecky also seized her chance to shine, although the win was never really in doubt, as she defended her 1,500 freestyle title for a record-equalling eighth gold.
The American now shares the record for most Olympic golds in women’s swimming with compatriot Jenny Thompson, who won eight relay titles over three Olympics from 1992-2000.
Her 12th medal matched the all-time record shared by Thompson, Americans Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin, and Australian Emma McKeon.
She also became the first female swimmer to stand at the top of the podium at four Olympics, something only male compatriots Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte have managed.
Another familiar name also returned to the top when evergreen Swede Sarah Sjostrom won the women’s blue riband 100 freestyle — a race the sprint queen only decided to enter late in the day.
“I didn’t think I would swim the 100 free,” the 30-year-old told reporters after reeling in American silver medallist Torri Huske and Hong Kong’s bronze-winner Siobhan Haughey.
“I was like…’I want to do the 50, I want to rest until the 50′, and he (her coach) was like, ‘No way, you need to go out there and see what you can do, no matter the outcome’.”
Canada’s Summer McIntosh led the women’s 200 butterfly semi-finals, ahead of Regan Smith of the United States and China’s Olympic record holder Zhang Yufei.
American Kate Douglass was fastest in the women’s 200 breaststroke semis, ahead of South Africa’s 100 champion Tatjana Smith.
American Ryan Murphy, the 2016 Olympic champion, failed to qualify for the men’s 200 backstroke final after winning the 100 bronze on Monday.
-Reuters
An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.
This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the Anambra and Imo states axis.
”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.
German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.
Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.
“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.
“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”
The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.
Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.
“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.
Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.
“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.
Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.
Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.
-Reuters
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.
He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.
Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.
Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).
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