France’s Léon Marchand dominates the Paris Olympic pool : NPR

NANTERRE, France – You could not stage Léon Marchand’s coronation any higher.

Over the past week, earlier than an adoring and at instances tumultuous dwelling crowd in Paris, the younger Frenchman with a mop of blond hair has emerged as the following massive title in worldwide Olympic swimming.

Marchand, age 22, had by no means received a gold medal earlier than these Summer season Video games. He is now claimed 4 particular person gold medals in a single Olympics, placing him in a class of greatness as soon as reserved completely for 2 Individuals, Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps.

With every victory this week, together with his newest Friday night time the place he held up 4 fingers in celebration, Marchand additionally shattered the Olympic report.

“It was loopy,” Marchand mentioned of his closing particular person efficiency within the males’s 200 meter particular person medley closing at Paris’s La Protection area in a Paris suburb. “As soon as once more the general public was cheering. It was my final particular person race [of these Games] so I informed myself I needed to actually take pleasure in it.”

To say the general public was cheering would not start to seize the cultural second Marchand has sparked right here. Some French are ambivalent concerning the resolution to host the Olympics in Paris, however in every single place you go within the metropolis there’s Marchand fever. Taxi drivers speak about him. Youngsters swoon over him. At eating places, all the things stops when he races as all eyes flip to televisions exhibiting his victories.

Younger followers gathered exterior La Protection area in a Paris suburb Friday to cheer on their new swimming hero, Léon Marchand. He got here by way of for them, successful a fourth gold medal.

Brian Mann/NPR

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Brian Mann/NPR

Crowds on the swimming venue right here have been full of Marchand followers. After every of his victories, 1000’s joined in boisterous renditions of La Marseillaise, France’s nationwide anthem.

Marchand is anticipated to swim once more on Sunday in a staff relay closing the place one other gold medal could be very attainable.

One twist to Marchand’s emergence as a nationwide icon in France is the truth that his efficiency within the pool has been formed largely by America’s long-dominant swimming system. Marchand lives within the U.S. many of the 12 months and competed till lately within the NCAA system for Arizona State College.

After her race on Friday, U.S. swimmer Regan Smith, who typically trains side-by-side with Marchand, voiced admiration for the Frenchman’s capability.

“I’ve had the chance to share a lane with him in apply for the higher half of two years,” Smith mentioned. “I have been in a position to see what he is in a position to do each day in apply. He clearly has it bodily, he is extremely proficient. However what units him other than everybody else is what he has proper up right here [in his mind]. It is in contrast to anybody I’ve ever met. He has this It issue, this Je ne sais quoi. He is aware of tips on how to get s*** executed.”

Leon Marchand of France, celebrates after successful the boys’s 200-meter particular person medley closing on the 2024 Summer season Olympics, his fourth particular person gold of the Paris Video games.

Natacha Pisarenko/AP

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Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Notably, Marchand is coached by Bob Bowman, the legendary American swimming coach who helped develop Michael Phelps’ expertise. Earlier this week, Bowman informed reporters Marchand has emerged in Paris as one of many all-time greats.

“I rank him on the prime proper now,” Bowman mentioned of Marchand. “He is acquired the velocity, he is acquired the endurance. He is not even reached his potential.”

Requested about the way it feels to coach a breakout expertise whose Olympic medals go to France, Bowman shrugged and mentioned, “I am nonetheless pink, white and blue in my coronary heart.”

After his win on Friday, Marchand mentioned he plans to maintain working with Bowman as he prepares for the following Summer season Olympics in Los Angeles.

“We shared wonderful moments right here. We’ve been working actually onerous over the past three years. I do not know tips on how to do the following half (of my sports activities profession). I believe (Bowman) will actually assist me with that, as a result of he is aware of quite a bit about it.

Requested about being in contrast with American Michael Phelps, who captured a profession complete of 28 Olympic medals — 23 of them gold — Marchand mentioned it is an honor. “After all, he’s a legend of the swimming world – and he’ll all the time be.”