Marchand withdraws from breaststroke amid injury uncertainty
Marchand withdraws from 200m breaststroke citing re-injury risk at European Championships.
Event / Sports
European Swimming Championships 2026
French swimmer Léon Marchand competes at the European Championships despite an adductor injury sustained at the French National Championships. He withdrew from the 200m breaststroke but remains entered in the 200m and 400m individual medley, 200m butterfly, and 400m freestyle, pending MRI results.
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2026-08-14 to 2026-11-11 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 1 Aug, 17:52 UTC
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What happened
Léon Marchand withdraws from 200m breaststroke at European Championships
French swimmer Léon Marchand withdrew from the 200m breaststroke event at the European Championships due to an adductor injury. Marchand initially sustained the injury during the heats of the 200m breaststroke at the French National Championships, then suffered a re-injury three weeks later during a breaststroke training session.
Léon Marchand expresses concern about re-injury risk
Marchand stated that his adductor re-injury occurred without warning signs during training, making him fearful of another injury during the competition. He expressed frustration about the uncertainty regarding his 400m individual medley participation, an event he had wanted to compete in this year.
Léon Marchand confirmed for European Championships despite injury uncertainty
Four-time Olympic champion Léon Marchand confirmed his participation in the European Championships. He is currently registered for four events: 200m and 400m individual medley, 200m butterfly, and 400m freestyle. However, his final race lineup remains uncertain pending an MRI scan scheduled for mid-week, and he may adjust his program based on how he feels.
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