“Allez!” they shouted every time Léon Marchand’s head resurfaced. “Allez!” they encouraged, as the swimmer destined to become France’s standout star at this Olympics surged towards clinching the gold in the 400m individual medley. Each “Allez!” resonated with such intensity that it felt like the very ground surrounding the pool vibrated with enthusiasm.
This wasn’t merely a competition; it was a total domination. The 22-year-old Marchand, coached by Bob Bowman, who once mentored Michael Phelps, exhibited shades of the American legend as he triumphed by a remarkable 5.67 seconds. To top it off, his time of 4 minutes 2.95 seconds shattered the longest-standing Olympic swimming record, previously set by Phelps in 2008.
Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita secured second place, while Carson Foster from the USA claimed bronze.
Meanwhile, Max Litchfield was once again on the verge of tears, having finished fourth in this event for the third consecutive Olympics, despite breaking his own British record. “I’ve poured everything into this—emotionally, mentally, and physically,” said the Brit. “I’ve achieved a personal best, and it’s just disappointing to be so close yet again.”
However, for the lively home crowd, the spotlight on Sunday evening shone brightly on Marchand. The Frenchman was already far ahead by the halfway mark after the butterfly and backstroke. The only question remained was how fast he would reach the finish line. Ultimately, he narrowly missed breaking his own world record, yet comfortably surpassed Phelps’s former Olympic benchmark.
Following the race, he was celebrated with loud chants of “Léon! Léon!” and a stirring rendition of La Marseillaise that touched the heart.
Marchand’s illustrious background suggests this performance was not simply a fluke. His mother, Celine, represented France in the pool at the Barcelona Olympics, while his father, Xavier, swam in Atlanta in both 1996 and 2000. However, it was Marchand’s decision to reach out to Bowman via email in May 2020 that proved to be a pivotal moment in his career.
“Dear Sir,” it started. “I am a French swimmer named Léon Marchand (18 years old). I wish to join Arizona State University in summer 2021 to swim and compete in the NCAA with your incredible team. Do you think a scholarship could be possible?” Bowman responded favorably, expressing his “particular fondness for the 400 IM,” and the rest is now history.
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Now the pressing question is how many additional medals Marchand could secure at these Games. Many consider the 200m individual medley and the 200m butterfly to be guaranteed golds for him. Don’t overlook his potential in the 200m breaststroke as well, though Qin Haiyang from China is the leading contender.
Certainly, Litchfield has faith in Marchand. “I believe he’s going to have an amazing week,” he stated. Based on this performance, it would be hard to disagree.
