Leon Marchand Breaks World Record, Luca Urlando Wins Gold | 2025 World Aquatics

Record, Luca Urlando Wins Butterfly Gold at 2025 World Aquatics Championships

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore have delivered fireworks — and it’s only Day 4. French sensation Léon Marchand and American comeback star Luca Urlando were the headliners, rewriting history in the pool with breathtaking performances.

SwimSwam – Full recap of Day 4 finals

Leon Marchand Crushes 200m IM World Record

In a moment that stunned the swimming world, Léon Marchand clocked a jaw-dropping 1:52.69 in the men’s 200m individual medley semifinal — smashing Ryan Lochte’s legendary 1:54.00 record set back in 2011.

Reuters – Léon Marchand breaks 200m IM world record

Split Breakdown:

• Butterfly: 24.10s

• Backstroke: 28.40s

• Breaststroke: 32.13s

• Freestyle: 28.06s

The 22-year-old Frenchman didn't just break the record — he obliterated it by 1.31 seconds, a staggering margin in a sprint medley event.

“I trained specifically for this. Fewer events, more focus — and it worked,” Marchand told reporters post-race.

He’s now the undisputed king of medley swimming, having previously broken Michael Phelps’ 400m IM world record in 2023.

🇺🇸 Luca Urlando Claims 200m Butterfly Gold in Comeback Win

In the same evening session, American swimmer Luca Urlando stunned the crowd by taking gold in the men’s 200m butterfly final with a time of 1:51.87 — his personal best and the fourth-fastest swim ever recorded in the event.

Urlando, 23, outpaced a strong field to end a 14-year drought for the U.S. in this event, becoming the first American to win since Michael Phelps in 2011.

Swimming World – Luca Urlando wins 200m butterfly

Urlando's Splits:

• 25.01 / 28.34 / 28.52 / 30.00

“To win this title after shoulder surgery and years of rehab... this moment means everything,” said Urlando, visibly emotional on the podium.

He now stands just behind world legends like Kristóf Milák and Phelps in all-time performance rankings. Notably, his time was faster than any of Phelps’ swims in a textile suit, further validating his elite status.

What This Means for the Swimming World

Event	Winner	Time	Note
200m Individual Medley (Men)	Léon Marchand	1:52.69 WR	Broke Ryan Lochte’s 2011 world record
200m Butterfly (Men)	Luca Urlando	1:51.87 PB	First U.S. gold in event since 2011

Marchand’s performance confirms him as the most dominant medley swimmer since Phelps, while Urlando’s win marks a successful comeback for the U.S. in a traditionally strong discipline.

Fun Fact:

• Marchand now owns the fastest times ever in both the 200m and 400m IM, pushing the boundaries of human performance.

• Urlando is now the fourth-fastest performer in history for the 200m butterfly.

What’s Next in Singapore?

With the championships heating up, eyes now turn to:

• Women’s 100m freestyle

• Men’s 4x200m freestyle relay

• Marchand’s 200m IM final (after his record-setting semi)

Stay tuned — more history is likely to be made in Singapore.

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Final Thoughts

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships are already proving to be one of the most exciting editions in recent history. Léon Marchand continues to redefine swimming greatness, while Luca Urlando’s story of resilience and redemption offers inspiration to athletes worldwide.

For fans, analysts, and future Olympic hopefuls — these are performances to remember.

 Got thoughts on Marchand’s world record or Urlando’s golden moment? Drop a comment or share this story with fellow swim fans!