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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
Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil’s Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.
South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.
KEY QUOTES
Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: “We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.”
Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: “We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we’re very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.”
-Reuters
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With a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer’s premier event.
Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico’s football cathedral – where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 – construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport’s most storied venues into the 21st century.
The stakes are magnified as the ‘Santa Ursula colossus’ will host the tournament’s opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world’s attention on Mexico from day one.
Renovations will expand the stadium’s capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges.
While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders.
Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte – along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte.
FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests.
HARSH REALITY
The backlash over the stadium’s new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders – some with relationships spanning decades – have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts.
One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights.
Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion.
“We’re not the stadium’s backyard,” one local resident told Expansion Politica. “But we’re always treated that way.”
By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s other two host cities, face fewer obstacles.
Guadalajara’s 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey’s 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades – primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system.
“We’ll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,” said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey’s Host City Manager. “That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.”
As construction continues, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September.
After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 – their worst World Cup performance since 1978 – Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the ‘fifth-game‘ curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts.
-Reuters
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All contenders are now known for this year’s President Federation Cup grand finale, following Saturday’s elimination of Edo Queens and Ibom Angels in the women’s semi-finals.
Multiple-winners Rivers Angels saw off the stiff challenge of Ibom Angels of Uyo 1-0 in Aba, while Nasarawa Amazons bumped Edo Queens 2-0 in Ayingba.
Cup holders Rivers Angels, who have won the competition nine times, will have their hands full against 2005 and 2019 champions Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.
In the men’s competition, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi are getting set to tackle Kwara United FC in the final.
Results of Semi Finals (Women)
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1-0 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
- Edo Queens (Edo) 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)
Results of Semi-Finals (Men)
- Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Ikorodu City (Lagos) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
- Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
WOMEN’S FINAL
- Rivers Angels vs Nasarawa Amazons
MEN’S FINAL
- Abakaliki FC VS Kwara United
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