The legend of Michael Phelps is perpetually, however his information should not; and Léon Marchand was the person who erased the final one he had left, essentially the most inaccessible to people, that of the 400m medley. The American swimmer stopped the clock on the 2008 Beijing Video games in 4:03.84. On the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, the Frenchman went additional: 4:02.50. That championship was his definitive affirmation and with one yr to go till the Paris Video games, the place he was going to be at residence, he was going to change into one of many centres of consideration, even when he did not wish to, as has occurred. Exactly the 400m medley was his first problem at this occasion, and he received his first gold with a time of 4:02.95 (Olympic report), a world lead over Matsushita (4:08.62) and the American Foster (4:08.66). There was no report, however it was shut, within the pool arrange at La Défense, a facility that often hosts rugby and live shows, however which swimmers have complained about as a result of it doesn’t have the required depth, and is due to this fact sluggish.
The in any other case imposing stage was inaugurated in 2017 with a live performance by the Rolling Stones, the kings of rock. The present king of water is Marchand, who has the proper mixture.
Son of swimmers
First, genetics. His father, Xavier Marchand, was an Olympian in 1996 and 2000 and was runner-up within the 200m freestyle world championship. His mom, Celine Bonnet, was additionally a swimmer and was in Barcelona in 1992. His uncle, Christophe Marchand, took half within the Spanish Video games, and earlier than that in Seoul in 1988, swimming freestyle. Léon began when he was very younger, however he stopped for a few years as a result of he discovered the water too chilly. He tried rugby or judo, however ended up succumbing to the decision of the pool, regardless of his dad and mom not encouraging him to take action. “Quite the opposite, they left me alone with my mission, they even warned me of the sacrifices I needed to make. For me it’s extra of a bonus that they’ve skilled the excessive degree. And, above all, I do what I like, in any other case it would not work,” the swimmer confessed in an interview on his college’s web site, which we’ll now get to.
The Dolphins of Toulouse
Level two, coaching. “He was skilled at a French membership with quite a lot of status in coaching swimmers, the Toulouse Dolphins,” explains Santiago Veiga, a biomechanics professor on the INEF in Madrid (Polytechnic College), who has been a swimming coach. “Once we went to junior world or European championships, Léon was already standing out. He did not have the dominance he has now, however he stood out and you might see that he had a physique to develop. With a physique nonetheless like that of a kid, he was standing out. You mentioned: ‘When he grows up and will get a bit robust, he’ll be superb.’ And certainly,” provides Veiga.
Bob Bowman
And at last, evolution. On the age of 18, he went to review in the USA, at Arizona State College, mainly for one purpose: to fulfill Bob Bowman, the coach who solid the Phelps fable. In a approach, it means closing the circle. “Typically Bob tells me that Michael would have achieved such and such a time. I evaluate him to me, even when it isn’t the most effective. However it motivates me. I am curious to know these items,” Marchand defined to “Olympics.com.” “He instructed me that I am related as a result of I can give all the things irrespective of the circumstances. If I do not sleep effectively or I’ve had a nasty day, I might be constant in coaching,” the Frenchman continued.
…And what’s to come back
“All of the elements are there: good genetics, good coaching as a teen and coaching with the most effective on the planet, which might additionally assist him handle the state of affairs of being at residence, for the reason that strain that Bowman and Phelps had in Beijing with the eight golds was brutal. In Paris, Marchand can do quite a lot of harm,” says Veiga. The 400m medley was the beginning. He’ll swim three different particular person occasions: 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and 200m medley.
