Pakistan, Aug. 1 -- Leon Marchand smashed the 200m individual medley world record in Singapore on Wednesday with another breathtaking swim while Australia and the United States celebrated more gold.

Racing in the semifinals at the world championships, the Frenchman clocked clocking 1 minute, 52.69 seconds to surpass the 1:54.00 set in 2011 by American Ryan Lochte.

Marchand set the mark swimming in the semifinals and, in theory, could break it again in Thursday's finals.

He 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 1...