NANTERRE, France (AP) — Turns out, those comparisons to Michael Phelps weren't far fetched at all when it comes to Léon Marchand.
They certainly weren't a burden for the 22-year-old Frenchman.
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Leon Marchand, center, of France, stands with silver medalist Kristof Milak, left, of Hungary, and bronze medalist Ilya Kharun, of Canada, following the men's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Gold medalist Katie Ledecky, of the United States, stands with silver medalist Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, of France, left, and bronze medalist Isabel Gose, of Germany, on the podium after the women's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand, of France, poses after the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand, of France, greets fans after the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Leon Marchand, center, of France, stands with silver medalist Kristof Milak, left, of Hungary, and bronze medalist Ilya Kharun, of Canada, following the men's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. Marchand won gold setting a new Olympic record. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Gold medalist Katie Ledecky, of the United States, stands with silver medalist Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, of France, left, and bronze medalist Isabel Gose, of Germany, on the podium after the women's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Supporters of gold medalist Leon Marchand cheer during the medal ceremony for the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Pan Zhanle, of China, celebrates after winning the men's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Pan Zhanle, of China, celebrates after winning the men's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Sarah Sjoestroem, of Sweden, celebrates after winning the women's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Sarah Sjoestroem, of Sweden, stands with her gold medal on the podium following the women's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Sarah Sjoestroem, of Sweden, celebrates after winning the women's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand stands on the winner's podium following the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Katie Ledecky, of the United States, competes in the women's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. Ledecky won gold setting a new Olympic record. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Gold medalist Katie Ledecky, of the United States, poses after the women's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Katie Ledecky, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Marchand completed one of the most audacious doubles in swimming history Wednesday night, winning the 200-meter butterfly and the 200 breaststroke about two hours apart in front of a home crowd cheering his every stroke.
Two grueling races. Two very different strokes. Two Olympic records. Two gold medals.
Take that, Phelps, who did several doubles of his own while claiming a record eight golds at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“I’m a really shy person,” Marchand said. "I was kind of the center of attention during those two races. I was trying to get the energy from the whole crowd. They’re amazing to me, pushing me in every final.”
Thrilling the French fans and claiming the spotlight even on a night when Katie Ledecky romped to another gold medal, Marchand notched his second and third victories at La Defense Arena and stamped himself — with the Olympics not even a week old — as one of the faces of the Paris Games.
After rallying to beat world-record holder and defending Olympic champion Kristóf Milák in the 200 fly with a finishing kick for the ages, Marchand made it look easy in the 200 breast.
He led all the way, touching in 2 minutes, 5.85 seconds as more than 15,000 fans — many of them holding up cardboard cutouts of his smiling face — nearly blew the roof off La Defense Arena.
“Léon! Léon! Léon!” they screamed, a chant that was sure to carry on through the night in Paris.
Trailing most of the way in the 200 fly, Marchand surged past the Hungarian Milák on the final lap to finish with an Olympic record of 1:51.21, touching first by just by .54 of a second.
Marchand's final lap was nearly 0.66 faster than anyone else in the field — and 1.26 clear of Milák.
“I’ve been watching so many races from him," Marchand said. "I know he has a lot of speed, way more than me, so I was just trying to get as close as possible, and then just push it until the end.”
The bronze went to Canada’s Ilya Kharun.
Following up his dominating victory in the 400 individual medley on Sunday, Marchand waved one finger and shook his head just a bit, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he had done.
Then, he hustled off the deck to another rousing cheer to begin his warm down, though those preparations were interrupted by a mandatory return for the victory ceremony.
After a boisterous rendition of “La Marseillaise,” the other two medalists walked slowly around the pool, getting their pictures made.
Not Marchand. He hustled back to the practice pool. There was another race to go.
The American star made the most of her guest appearance on The Marchand Show by romping to her seventh individual Olympic gold medal — she also has a relay gold — and 12th medal overall with a runaway victory in the 1,500 freestyle.
The 27-year-old Ledecky tied fellow Americans Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin and Jenny Thompson for the most medals ever by a female swimmer. Ledecky already held the mark for most individual gold medals by a woman coming into these Games.
“I try not to think about history very much,” Ledecky said. “But I know those names, those people that I’m up there with, they're swimmers that I looked up to when I first started swimming. So it’s an honor just to be named among them.”
Ledecky led right from the start and steadily pulled away, touching in an Olympic-record 15:30.02 in an event that joined the women’s program at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
This was similar to the race three years ago: Ledecky far in front and everyone else racing for a silver.
France’s Anastasiia Kirpichnikova finished nearly a half lap behind but thrilled the home fans by claiming the second spot on the podium in 15:40.35.
The bronze went to Germany’s Isabel Gose at 15:41.16.
After starting the Paris Games with a bronze in the 400 freestyle, this result looked more familiar for Ledecky.
She was clearly thrilled to be on top again, splashing the water and pumping her fist several times walking across the deck — a rare show of emotion for a stoic athlete who performs with machine-like efficiency.
“I know a lot of other people expected it of me,” Ledecky said. “That doesn’t make it easy. I mean, it’s not easy to always follow through and you get the job done.”
As Ledecky was walking off the deck with her gold medal, it was time for Marchand to go for his second of the night,
No problem. He blew away the field in the 200 breaststroke with an Olympic record of 2:05.85, knocking off another champion from Tokyo.
Australia's Zac Stubblety-Cook settled for the silver this time, nearly a second behind in 2:06.79. Claiming the bronze was Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands.
“The most exciting part of that whole race and watching him soak it all up and have his moment,” Stubblety-Cook said. "I think it’s awesome. It’s great for the sport of swimming and it’s great to see the better half of 15,000 people chanting one person’s name and watching swimming live.”
Marchand climbed out of the pool and stared at the scoreboard. He tussled his mop of curly hair a few times, then threw his arms in the air.
His work was done, at least for a few hours. Next up is the 200 individual medley, which begins with heats Thursday morning.
“I’m so very proud of him,” said his coach, American Bob Bowman, who also was Phelps' coach. “That’s a tremendous, historic effort.”
Nearly lost in all the hoopla was China’s Pan Zhanle setting the first world record of these Games, breaking his own mark in the 100 freestyle.
He won in 46.40, easily knocking off the mark of 46.80 he set in February at the world championships in Doha.
It was an impressive performance given the shallow pool at La Defense Arena, which has been cited as the big reason no world records fell over the first four days of the meet.
Australia's Kyle Chalmers claimed the silver and David Popovici of Romania nabbed the bronze.
Sarah Sjöström made her fifth Olympics a gold-medal celebration with a victory in the 100 freestyle.
Sjöström had pared down her program at the last two world championships, swimming only the 50 free. She decided to add the 100 at the Paris Games, and boy did that decision pay off.
Her winning time was 52.16, with the U.S. settling for another silver medal — its eighth of the swimming competition — when Torri Huske finished in 52.29. Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong took the bronze.
A previous version of this story had the incorrect finishing time for Marchand in the 200 butterfly and an incorrect gap between his time and Milák's. The correct time was 1:51:21, not 1:51.71.
AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Gold medalist Leon Marchand, of France, poses after the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand, of France, greets fans after the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Leon Marchand, center, of France, stands with silver medalist Kristof Milak, left, of Hungary, and bronze medalist Ilya Kharun, of Canada, following the men's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. Marchand won gold setting a new Olympic record. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Gold medalist Katie Ledecky, of the United States, stands with silver medalist Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, of France, left, and bronze medalist Isabel Gose, of Germany, on the podium after the women's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Supporters of gold medalist Leon Marchand cheer during the medal ceremony for the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Pan Zhanle, of China, celebrates after winning the men's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Pan Zhanle, of China, celebrates after winning the men's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Sarah Sjoestroem, of Sweden, celebrates after winning the women's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Sarah Sjoestroem, of Sweden, stands with her gold medal on the podium following the women's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Sarah Sjoestroem, of Sweden, celebrates after winning the women's 100-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand stands on the winner's podium following the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Katie Ledecky, of the United States, competes in the women's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. Ledecky won gold setting a new Olympic record. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Gold medalist Katie Ledecky, of the United States, poses after the women's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Katie Ledecky, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The names are carved on poles of African hardwood that are set upright as if reaching for the sun. No one knows where the men they represent were buried.
But their names, forgotten for more than a century, have been revived and are now written in the records of history.
Black South African servicemen who died in non-combat roles on the Allied side during World War I and have no known grave have been recognized with a memorial featuring 1,772 names.
An inscription on a granite block at the memorial in Cape Town says: “Your legacies are preserved here.”
Because they were Black, they were not allowed to carry arms. They were members of the Cape Town Labor Corps, transporting food, ammunition and other supplies and building roads and bridges during the Great War.
They didn't serve in Europe but in the fringe battles in Africa, where Allied forces fought in the then-German colonies of German South West Africa (now Namibia) and German East Africa (now Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi).
The men made the same ultimate sacrifice as around 10 million others who died serving in armies in the 1914-1918 war.
After the war, they were not recognized because of the racial policies of British colonialism and then South Africa's apartheid regime.
The memorial finally rights a historical wrong, said the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the British organization that looks after war graves and built the new memorial in Cape Town's oldest public garden.
The memorial was opened Wednesday by Britain's Princess Anne, the commission's president.
“It ensures the names and stories of those who died will echo in history for future generations,” Princess Anne said. "It is important to recognize that those we have come to pay tribute to have gone unacknowledged for too long. We will remember them.”
When her speech ended, a lone soldier played “The Last Post” on his bugle to commemorate the Black servicemen as war dead, 106 years, two months and 11 days after the end of World War I.
While South Africa has several memorials dedicated to its white soldiers who died in both world wars, the Black servicemen's contribution was ignored for decades.
It was in danger of being lost forever until a researcher found evidence of their service in South African army documents around 10 years ago, said Commonwealth War Graves Commission operational manager David McDonald, who oversaw the South African project.
Researchers discovered the more than 1,700 Black servicemen and the war graves commission traced the families of six of the dead, most of them from deeply rural South African regions.
Four of those families were represented at Wednesday's ceremony. They laid wreaths at the foot of the memorial and were able to touch the individual poles dedicated to their lost relatives and where their names are inscribed.
“It made us very proud. It made us very happy,” said Elliot Malunga Delihlazo, whose great-grandfather, Bhesengile, was among those honored.
Delihlazo said his family only knew that Bhesengile went to war and never came back.
“Although it pains us ... that we can’t find the remains, at last we know that he died in 1917,” Delihlazo said. “Now the family knows. Now, at last, we know.”
AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
Britain's Princess Anne, the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, centre, in conversation with official during the opening of a memorial dedicated to more than 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
A Royal Marine officer attends the opening of a memorial dedicated to more than 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Egyptian geese with goslings are seen next to an African "iroko" hardwood post bearing names and the date of death of 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Britain's Princess Anne, the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, walks in between an African "iroko" hardwood post bearing names and the date of death of 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Lwanda Sindaphi, a praise poet performs a cultural tribute at the opening of a memorial dedicated to more than 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Britain's Princess Anne, the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, attends the opening of a memorial dedicated to more than 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
A memorials plaque dedicated to more than 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Britain's Princess Anne, the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, attends the opening of a memorial dedicated to more than 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Britain's Princess Anne, the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, walks in between an African "iroko" hardwood post bearing names and the date of death of 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
A memorials plaque dedicated to more than 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
A praise poet performs a cultural tribute at the opening of a memorial dedicated to more than 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
African "iroko" hardwood posts bear the names and the date of death of 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combatant roles in World War I and have no known grave, in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)