SINGAPORE, July 30, (AP): Léon Marchand broke the world record in the 200-meter individual medley on Wednesday at the world championships in Singapore, clocking 1 minute, 52.61 seconds to surpass the 1:54.00 set in 2011 by American Ryan Lochte.

Ahmed Jaouadi of Tunisia won the 800 free, clocking 7:36.88 - the third fastest time ever swum in the event. Sven Schwarz of Germany claimed silver in 7:39.96 with fellow German Lukas Martens taking bronze in 7:40.19. American Bobby Finke, the three-time Olympic gold medalist, was fourth, far off the pace in 7:46.42.

Sam Short of Australia, who had the second-quickest qualifying time in the 800, pulled out of the race with what the team said was food poisoning.

The Frenchman set the mark swimming in the semifinals and, in theory, could break it again in Thursday’s finals.

Marchand won four Olympic gold medals a year ago in Paris, but he’s swimming only the 200 and 400 medley - and relays - in Singapore. Planning the lighter schedule in what he calls a "transition year” keeps him fresh to chase the world marks.

Marchand didn't just break the 14-year-old record; he shattered it.

"What's crazy is that it's a whole second - and it's still hard to believe,” he said. "1:52 on the 200 meters - that's insane.”

Marchand will swim the 400 IM on Sunday, the final day of the world championships. He holds the record of 4:02.50, set at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. And it seems likely to go.

"Today I felt really good before the race,” he said. "In the water, I felt light, I was taking in a lot of water, and technically everything felt clean.”