Léon Marchand Wins First European Gold in Swimming
Listen to the story
The European Swimming Championships are happening in Saint-Denis. Saint-Denis is a city in France.
On Saturday, August 15, there were many swimming races. One race was the 200m butterfly for men. Butterfly is a swimming style.
Léon Marchand won this race. He is a French swimmer. This was his first European gold medal. A gold medal is for the winner.
Marchand is famous. He won many medals before at the Olympics. The Olympics is a big sports event.
People watched the race on TV. The event had a full schedule for the day. A schedule shows the times of events.
Many swimmers competed at the championships. The championships have races every day.
This win was special for Marchand and for France.
Vocabulary15 words
- butterfly
- a swimming style; you move both arms together
- gold medal
- a prize for the winner; first place
- Olympics
- a very big sports event; happens every four years
- schedule
- a list of times; when things happen
- championships
- a big competition; the best players compete
- swimmer
- a person who swims
- race
- a competition; who is fastest
- event
- something that happens; like a show or game
- France
- a country in Europe
- won
- past of win; got first place
- famous
- many people know this person
- competed
- took part in a race or game
- first
- number one; before all others
- special
- very good; not normal
- European
- from Europe; about Europe
Quiz
Answer key
1. Saint-Denis 2. 200m butterfly 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The European Swimming Championships are happening in _____. Saint-Denis is a city in France.
On Saturday, August 15, there were many swimming _____. One race was the 200m butterfly for men.
Léon Marchand _____ this race. He is a French swimmer. This was his first European gold _____.
Marchand is famous. He won many medals before at the _____.
People watched the race on TV. The event had a full _____ for the day.
Many swimmers _____ at the championships. The championships have races every day.
This win was _____ for Marchand and for France.