Marchand completed the race in one minute 54.06 seconds, only 0.06 seconds short of Ryan Lochte’s world record. Britain’s Duncan Scott took silver, while China’s defending champion Wang Sun finished for bronze. 

In other events, Australia’s Kaylee McKeown became the first woman to retain both backstroke titles with gold in the 200m event. The 23-year-old claimed the win in an Olympic record time of 2:03.73.

The American Regan Smiths took silver – her third silver of the games – with Kylie Masse of Canada taking bronze.

‘Florent Manaudou of France secured the bronze in 21.56 seconds’

Cameron McEvoy became the first Australian man to win gold at the Paris Games finishing first in the 50m freestyle. He made it from one end of the pool to the other in 21.25 seconds, beating Britain’s Benjamin Proud by five-hundredths of a second. Florent Manaudou of France secured the bronze in 21.56 seconds.

Saturday morning’s swimming events will include the women’s 50m freestyle heats, men’s 1 500m freestyle heats, men’s 4 x 100m medley relay heats and women’s 4 x 100m medley relay heats.

This evening session will feature the men’s 100m butterfly final, women’s 50m freestyle semifinals, women’s 200m individual medley final, women’s 800m freestyle final, and mixed 4 x 100 medley relay final.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cg/mvh