Better of Paris: Leon Marchand’s summer season of 4 golds, 4 Olympic information and one leap to stardom

Leon Marchand: ‘I’ve rather a lot to do within the swimming world’

Marchand produced his fourth and ultimate gold two days later within the 200m IM in 1:54.06 to carve out his personal chapter within the sporting annals – turning into France’s first Olympian to win 4 gold medals at a single Games.

He additionally joined Phelps (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008) and legends Mark Spitz (Munich 1972) and Kristin Otto (Seoul 1988) as the one swimmers to seize 4 particular person golds at one Olympics.

Not to say the bronze Marchand gained within the 4x100m medley relay to cap a five-medal haul at his second Olympic Games. Talk about progress – at Tokyo 2020, he fared no higher than sixth in any of his 4 races.

Marchand concedes his post-Olympic fame took a toll on him however the 23-year-old’s discovered to deal with it.

Perhaps he ought to, as the celebrity gained’t be going away anytime quickly along with his entire profession nonetheless forward of him. Even Phelps himself says Marchand could possibly be the brand new Phelps.

And it began with the summer season of 2024.

“It was a lot to handle at first, but I got used to it because I stayed in France until December of last year,” Marchand stated forward of this yr’s world championships in Singapore, the place he smashed the world document within the 200m IM.

“But I additionally loved it, and I understand how to deal with it higher now. I understand how to say ‘no’ higher. I’m additionally nonetheless studying rather a lot. I undoubtedly get much more peace once I journey out of France. I’m capable of prepare higher and simply do my very own factor like typical.

“Of course I want to break all the records in the next few years. I don’t know when that’s gonna happen, but I have a lot to do in the swimming world.”

Stay tuned.