Marchand, 20, improved by 18/100th the mark of Hugues Duboscq (2:08.94) established during the final of the Beijing Olympics-2008 which he finished in 3rd place.
With this time, the Toulousain who trains at the University of Arizona under the direction of Bob Bowman, the ex-mentor of Michael Phelps, would have taken 4th place in the final of the Worlds-2022.
He now holds the French records for the 200 and 400 m medley, 200 butterfly and 200 m breaststroke.
On Sunday, still in Sabadell, he will take part in the 100m butterfly.
In June, Marchand caused a sensation during the 2022 Worlds in Budapest by winning the 200 and 400 m medley titles, as well as the silver medal in the 200 m butterfly.
However, he will not participate in the European Championships which will take place in August in Rome, at the same time as his return to university in the United States.
© 2022 AFP