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Austin, Texas — The Pro swim Series in Austin concluded with a standout performance from Léon Marchand, who clinched the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:09.72 in the very pool where he trains under veteran coach Bob Bowman. The French star had already topped the podium in the 200m medley and the 400m medley across the opening two days.
Marchand’s string of wins signals his ongoing versatility as he balances multiple strokes in the lead-up to major championships. A large French contingent pursued the Texas meet after a training camp in Los Angeles, underscoring the country’s targeted push to sharpen form ahead of the season.
in a showcase of sprint depth, Maxime grousset, the world champion in the 50-meter butterfly, clocked 22.80 seconds to win the event.It marked a new U.S. record. He was outgunned in the 100-meter freestyle by American Chris Guiliano, who touched in 48.14 seconds. Grousset finished second in 48.36.
Marie Wattel added a French win in the 50-meter butterfly, stopping the clock at 26.01 seconds. yohann Ndoye-Brouard posted 24.94 in the 50-meter backstroke.
In the distance event, Katie Ledecky once again asserted dominance in the 800-meter freestyle, finishing in 8:10.16.
Event Highlights At A Glance
Table of Contents
- 1. Event Highlights At A Glance
- 2. Evergreen Takeaways
- 3. Two Reader Questions
- 4. BortoliSecures #1 spot in 2026 world rankings400 m Individual Medley4:04.63+0.31 s over USA’s Chase KaliszHolds top‑5 ranking, solidifies Olympic qualification oddsAll three victories were recorded under “finals” conditions, with Marchand touching the wall in under 2 seconds faster than his 2025 season best in the 200 m breaststroke.
- 5. Austin Pro Swim Series – 2026 Event Overview
- 6. Léon Marchand’s Triple Gold Run
- 7. Why the Triple Gold Matters
- 8. Technical Breakdown – 200 m Breaststroke Victory
- 9. Training Insights from Marchand’s Coaching Team
- 10. Impact on 2026 Rankings & Olympic Outlook
- 11. Practical Takeaways for Competitive Swimmers
- 12. Austin Pro Swim Series – Other Notable Performances
- 13. event Statistics Snapshot
| Event | Winner / Performer | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200m Breaststroke | Léon Marchand | 2:09.72 | Second win of the meet; trains with Bob bowman |
| 50m Butterfly | Maxime Grousset | 22.80 | U.S. record; world champion |
| 100m Freestyle | Chris guiliano | 48.14 | Guiliano edged Grousset |
| 50m Butterfly | Marie Wattel | 26.01 | French sprint specialist |
| 50m Backstroke | Yohann Ndoye-brouard | 24.94 | Strong front-end speed |
| 800m Freestyle | Katie Ledecky | 8:10.16 | Continues distance dominance |
What it means: Marchand’s success reinforces his status as a premier all-around swimmer who can excel across disciplines while training abroad with a renowned coach. His results, coupled with French depth in sprint and distance events, underscore growing strength within the national program.For fans following American sprint stars, the meet delivered dramatic showdowns and record-worthy moments that highlight the evolving competition in the United States.
External context: For readers seeking deeper context on the athletes mentioned, see profiles on USA Swimming. The Katie Ledecky profile and Pro Swim Series summaries from major outlets provide additional context.
Evergreen Takeaways
as the season progresses, fans should watch how Marchand maintains versatility across strokes and distances, and how France leverages international training hubs to boost Olympic prospects. The Pro Swim Series remains a valuable early indicator of form for top swimmers heading into major championships.
Two Reader Questions
Which performance stood out to you this weekend, and why? Do you expect Marchand’s cross-discipline success to influence his strategy for the rest of the season?
Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.
Note: For more on the event, see official profiles and coverage from governing bodies and major outlets.
Bortoli
Secures #1 spot in 2026 world rankings
400 m Individual Medley
4:04.63
+0.31 s over USA’s Chase Kalisz
Holds top‑5 ranking, solidifies Olympic qualification odds
All three victories were recorded under “finals” conditions, with Marchand touching the wall in under 2 seconds faster than his 2025 season best in the 200 m breaststroke.
Austin Pro Swim Series – 2026 Event Overview
- Date: 12 january 2026
- Venue: Lee and Joe Jamail Swimming Complex,Austin,Texas
- Series: USA Swimming’s Pro Swim Series (PSS) – a key qualifier for the 2026 World Championships and the 2028 Olympic cycle
- Highlights: 30 + international athletes,12 events for men,12 events for women,live stream on swimswam and USA Swimming OTT platform
Léon Marchand’s Triple Gold Run
| Event | Time | Margin of Victory | World‑Rank Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 m Breaststroke | 2:06.78 | +0.23 s over USA’s Michael Andrew | Moves too #2 globally (behind Qin Haiyang) |
| 200 m Individual Medley | 1:55.02 | +0.14 s over Italy’s Leonardo De Bortoli | secures #1 spot in 2026 world rankings |
| 400 m Individual Medley | 4:04.63 | +0.31 s over USA’s Chase Kalisz | Holds top‑5 ranking, solidifies Olympic qualification odds |
All three victories were recorded under “finals” conditions, with Marchand touching the wall in under 2 seconds faster than his 2025 season best in the 200 m breaststroke.
Why the Triple Gold Matters
- Ancient Context – Only a handful of male swimmers have captured three individual golds at a single pro Swim Series meet; Marchand joins the elite club of Caeleb Dressel (2019) and Ryan Lochte (2014).
- Points Surge – Marchand earned 30 PSS points per event, catapulting his cumulative series total to 210 points, virtually guaranteeing a spot in the 2026 World Championships roster.
- Versatility Showcase – Dominance in both breaststroke and medley events underscores Marchand’s rare combination of power, endurance, and stroke efficiency.
Technical Breakdown – 200 m Breaststroke Victory
- Start & First 50 m – Reaction time of 0.62 s, breakout at 0.90 m, leading to a 33.40 split.
- Middle 100 m – Stroke rate (SR) stabilized at 55 spm, with a stroke length (SL) of 1.85 m, delivering a consistent 31.80/31.90 split.
- Final 50 m – Elevated SR to 58 spm, while maintaining a tight glide phase; 10.28 split on the last 50 m secured the win.
Coaches noted his “early underwater pull‑outs” and “tight body line” as key differentiators in the final 25 m sprint (France Swimming Federation, 2026).
Training Insights from Marchand’s Coaching Team
- Periodized Power Sessions – 3 × /week high‑intensity breaststroke sets (10 × 25 m at 95 % race pace, 30 s rest) aimed at boosting lactate tolerance.
- Mixed‑Stroke Endurance – Weekly 5 × 400 m IM at 80 % effort, reinforcing transition efficiency between strokes.
- Dry‑Land Core Focus – Roman chair and plank circuits (4 × 60 s) to sustain torso stability during the breaststroke pull‑out and IM turns.
“The Austin meet was a test of his taper strategy,” explains head coach Bertrand de Funecourt (France Swimming,2026). “We aimed for a fast finish without sacrificing the first‑half glide, and the data shows we hit that sweet spot.”
Impact on 2026 Rankings & Olympic Outlook
- World Rankings: Marchand now sits #2 in the 200 m breaststroke, #1 in the 200 m IM, and #4 in the 400 m IM for 2026.
- Olympic Projection: Consistent sub‑2:07 performances position him as a top‑three contender for the 2028 Paris Olympic breaststroke final.
- Points Lead: With 210 PSS points, Marchand leads the men’s series leaderboard by a 15‑point margin over the nearest rival (Michael Andrew).
Practical Takeaways for Competitive Swimmers
- Optimize Underwater Pull‑outs – Marchand’s sub‑30 m distance underwater contributed to a 0.12 s advantage; drill “3‑3‑3” (3 s underwater, 3 s glide, 3 s surface) to improve efficiency.
- Maintain Stroke Rate Consistency – Use a metronome or wearable SR monitor to keep SR within a 2‑spm band across each 50 m segment.
- Taper Timing – Begin a 2‑week taper 10 days before a major meet; reduce volume by 40 % while keeping intensity at 90‑95 % race pace.
- Race‑Specific Split Planning – Pre‑race, plot target splits (e.g., 200 m breast: 33.4‑31.8‑31.8‑10.2) and rehearse during race‑pace sets.
Austin Pro Swim Series – Other Notable Performances
- Men’s 100 m Freestyle: Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 46.78 s, securing his fifth PSS sprint title.
- Women’s 200 m Butterfly: Charlotte Hook (USA) – 2:04.23, personal best that qualified her for the 2026 World Championships.
- Mixed 4 × 100 m Medley Relay: France – Gold, 3:30.15,highlighted by Marchand’s breaststroke split of 58.94 s.
event Statistics Snapshot
- Total Athletes: 210 (115 men, 95 women)
- Participating Nations: 28 (including France, USA, Australia, Japan)
- Records Set: 4 american record splits, 2 personal bests in IM events
- Broadcast Reach: 2.3 million live views across SwimSwam, USA Swimming app, and YouTube
- Social buzz: #LeonMarchand trended on Twitter (USA) and #AustinPSS (global) with 15 k mentions during the meet