Most swimming gold medals in a single Olympics: Leon Marchand joins elite company with fourth gold medal

Bryan Murphy

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Most swimming gold medals in a single Olympics: Leon Marchand joins elite company with fourth gold medal image

Remember the name Leon Marchand.

The French star was tabbed to be the potential breakout star of the 2024 Olympics. After starring at Arizona State for the last three years, Marchand entered the competition on his home soil with high expectations. 

It's safe to say Marchand met those expectations and then some.

The 22-year-old put himself in elite company Friday, joining an incredibly short list of Olympic swimmers to win at least four individual golds at a single Olympics. He finished first in the men's 200m individual medley, completing the sweep of his individual events in Paris. 

In addition to Friday's win, Marchand also claimed the gold in the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, and 400m individual medley.

Who else is in the prestigious company with Marchand? Here is a look at which swimmers have won the most gold medals at a single Olympics.

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Most swimming gold medals in a single Olympics

With Marchand's win in the men's 200m individual medley, he earned his fourth gold medal in Paris. He became only the fourth swimmer ever to win at least four gold medals at a single Olympics, joining Spitz, Phelps and Germany's Kristin Otto in that category.

Marchand's individual performance at the Olympics was spectacular, but it's not the best showing out of a single swimmer. That honor belongs to Phelps, who dazzled at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing when he won eight gold medals, with five of those in individual categories. 

MORE: Tracking Leon Marchand's Olympic medals 

Here is a look at the most swimming gold medals in a single Olympics, including only individual events:

SwimmerOlympicsGold Medals
Michael Phelps20085
Mark Spitz19724
Kristin Otto19884
Michael Phelps20044
Leon Marchand20244

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.