Who is Leon Marchand: 22-YO French Swimmer Who Emulated Michael Phelps with 4th Gold at Paris Olympics
All You Need to Know About Leo Marchand
Leo Marchand four golds, in the 400m individual medley, 200m butterfly, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley – took France to the second spot on the medals tally at the end of day 7.
Four medals in three days with two of them coming in a matter of two hours; that’s been French swimmer Leon Marchand’s remarkable journey in the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024. His four golds, in the 400m individual medley, 200m butterfly, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley – took France to the second spot on the medals tally at the end of day 7.
A record to remember
The Frenchman becomes the first male swimmer since American record-breaker Michael Phelps at Beijing 2008 to win four individual golds in a single Games. Marchand won in 1min 54.06sec, the second-fastest time in history and an Olympic record, with Britain’s Duncan Scott taking silver and China’s Wang Shun third.
It was another memorable night for the host nation at La Defense Arena with French President Emmanuel Macron among those in the crowd celebrating the latest night of glory for the 22-year-old poster boy.
Guided by Michael Phelps’ former coach
Interestingly, Leon Marchand has been nurtured by Michael Phelps’s former mentor Bob Bowman. The former swum at Arizona State University in the USA for three years before moving to the University of Texas with Bowman.
“Leon has several things that make him a great,” Bowman had said before the Olympics began.
“He has speed and he has endurance. So he kind of has the whole package that you want, and so far he’s done well under pressure, which is the other piece of that equation. He has it all really,” he added.
Swimming in his Genes
Marchand, 22, was born in Toulouse. His father Xavier represented France at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and the Sydney Olympics in 2000. At Atlanta 1996, Xavier finished 8th in the 200m individual medley and 7th in Sydney 2000.
Celine, Marchand’s mother, also a swimmer, competed in four events in Barcelona 1992 and ended 14th in the 200m individual medley.
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