Now it’s four. France’s Léon Marchand won four individual gold medals at the Paris Summer Olympics, breaking Olympic records each time.
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NANTERRE, France – You can’t stage it Leon Marchand of Is the coronation better?
During the past week, before a adoring and sometimes riotous crowds at home In Paris, the young Frenchman with blond hair has emerged as the next big name in international Olympic swimming.
Marchand, 22, had never won a gold medal before this summer’s Olympics. He has now won four individual gold medals in one Olympics, putting him in a class of greats once held by two Americans, Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps.
With each win this week, including the latest Friday night when he held up four fingers in celebration, Marchand has also broken an Olympic record.
“It was crazy,” Marchand said of his final individual performance in the men’s 200-meter individual medley final at the La Defense arena on the outskirts of Paris. “The crowd was cheering again. It was my last individual race. [of these Games] So I told myself I had to really enjoy it.”
To say the public was cheering would be an understatement of the cultural moment Marchand sparked here. Some French people were ambivalent about the decision to hold the Olympics in Paris, but everywhere in the city you could see Marchand fever. Taxi drivers talked about him. Teenagers went crazy for him. Restaurants stopped when he raced, all eyes on the televisions broadcasting his victory.
Young fans gathered outside La Defense Arena on the outskirts of Paris on Friday to cheer on their new swimming hero, Léon Marchand, who helped them win their fourth gold medal.
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Brian Mann/NPR
The crowd at the swimming venue here is packed with Marchand fans. After each of his victories, thousands of people join in singing La Marseillaise, the French national anthem.
Marchand is expected to swim again on Sunday in the team relay final, where he could well win another gold medal.
A turning point in Marchand’s emergence as a national icon in France was the fact that his swimming achievements were largely influenced by the long-dominant American swimming system. Marchand lives in the United States. most of the year and until recently played in the NCAA system for Arizona State University.
After Friday’s race, American swimmer Regan Smith, who often trains with Marchand, spoke of her admiration for the Frenchman’s ability.
“I’ve had the opportunity to share a lane with him at practice for over half a year,” Smith said. “I’ve been able to see what he can do every day in practice. Obviously he’s athletic, he’s incredibly talented. But what sets him apart from everyone else is what he has right here.” [in his mind]. He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. He has this It factor, this I do not know anything. He knows how to do everything.”
France’s Leon Marchand celebrates after winning the men’s 200-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, winning his fourth individual gold medal at the Paris Games.
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Natacha Pisarenko/AP
Notably, Marchand is coached by Bob Bowman, the legendary American swimming coach who helped develop Michael Phelps. Earlier this week, Bowman told reporters Marchand emerged in Paris as one of the greatest artists of all time.
“I put him at the top right now,” Bowman said of Marchand. “He has the speed, he has the stamina. He hasn’t even reached his potential yet.”
Asked how it feels to coach a breakout talent who won an Olympic medal in France, Bowman shrugged and said, “I’m still red, white and blue in my heart.”
After Friday’s win, Marchand said he plans to continue working with Bowman as he prepares for next summer’s Olympics in Los Angeles.
“We’ve shared some great moments here. We’ve worked really hard over the last three years. I don’t know what to do next (in my sporting career). I think (Bowman) will really help me with that, because he knows a lot about it.
Ask about being compared to American Michael Phelpsperson who has scored a total of career goals 28 Olympic medals — 23 gold medals — Marchand said it was an honor. “Of course, he is a legend in the swimming world — and he will always be.”
