Leon Marchand, the 22-year-old swimming champion who made Team France proud with four gold medals and one silver medal at the Paris Olympics, ranks as one of the Games’ biggest breakthrough athletes.
After completing her final competition on Monday, Marchand, who is originally from Toulouse, southern France, and traveled to Paris with her parents and brother, embarked on a marathon wall-to-wall media tour but reportedly turned down one of the Olympics. the most popular talk shows, Quels Jeux, hosted by the famous journalist Léa Salamé and broadcast on France Televisions.
According to Le Parisien newspaper, it’s because Salameh’s show “doesn’t match his values,” although they didn’t elaborate on why that might be.
Still, the scandal has become the talk of the Olympics-crazed French media. Quels Jeux has been criticized for being too popular at the expense of the sport, merely offering a platform for self-promotion. And Salameh, whose beat is usually political, was also fired for not having enough athletic experience to host a show ostensibly focused on the Olympics.
That didn’t stop Marchand from getting a hero’s welcome Monday night when he visited Club France, the Olympics’ biggest fan zone, which draws an average of 40,000 people a day and the winning French athletes. The frenzied crowd erupted in loud cheers and chants of “Leon President” as soon as the Olympic champion took the stage.
Although he is not seeking a career in politics, Marchand also counts French President Emmanuel Macron among his most ardent admirers. Macron was seen jumping for joy at La Défense Arena in Paris when Marchand won her fourth gold medal on August 2. The French president, who saw his popularity collapse after dissolving the French National Assembly and calling snap elections shortly before the start of the Olympics. , later posted a picture of himself shaking Marchand’s hand over an X, writing, “Impossible is not French. Four GOLD medals at home and a new Olympic record, that’s historic. It’s Leon Marchand.
Impossible in France!
Quatre médailles en OR à la maison et un nouveau olympique record, c’est historique.
C’est Léon Marchand. pic.twitter.com/mO9vlRaRPF
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 2, 2024
Marchand, who transferred to Phoenix, Arizona three years ago, looked like a fish out of water when he stepped into the spotlight. Speaking to hysterical fans at Club France on Monday, the athlete said: “I don’t have much to say. You guys were awesome! Indeed. It was great to see you in the stands. You make games magical. So really, thank you all.”
Macron owes a lot to Marchand. The champion has contributed greatly to the success of these Olympics and to changing the mood of the French from gloomy to euphoric in less than 10 days. He also helped France achieve its all-time record of 48 medals so far, placing the country third behind the USA and China.
In an interview with France Televisions’ Anne-Sophie Lapix, she said that “thanks to (her) education” she is “humble”. “My parents are here to remind me of that. I keep my feet on the ground. I also have studies on the side,” said Marchand, who is studying computer science at Arizona State University.
Reflecting on her sudden fame, she told Lapix that, “It’s definitely a big change. I’m pretty reserved. I’d rather be at home with my parents than on stage in front of 15,000 people.”
“It’s not easy for me after nine days of intense competition. I am aware of my new status. (…) Being in front of 15,000 is not really my comfort zone. (…) And for the photo session, I had to wear the five medals around my neck. it’s heavy.” he said with a smile, adding that it was “a great moment” to see the supporters “up close” during the competition.
Nicknamed “the dolphin” by his French supporters, Marchand moved to Arizona to train with Bob Bowman, the coach of 23-time Olympic gold medalist American swimmer Michael Phelps. He told Lapix that he has been preparing these Olympic Games for five years. “This week is rewarding. It’s a lot of work.” In an interview with AFP in February (obtained by Le Figaro), Marchand revealed that he shares a house with four other swimmers about 10 minutes from the university and wakes up at 5am every day to train from 6am. :
While she’s done with the swimming events, Marchand said she’ll save the basketball, volleyball and track and field finals. Marchand also plans to take a long summer off to rest from her Olympic exploits.
He said he “talked to his coach (Bowman) and will take a month and a half off to enjoy and travel. Before the Olympics, Bowman told French sports newspaper L’Equipe that he wanted to see Marchand return to the United States immediately after the Olympics to focus on preparing for the next competition, rather than staying in France where he could be distracted. with ultimate star status.
But Bowman also gushed to L’Equipe about Marchand. “It just shows the incredible work he’s put in over the years to get here. His attitude and attitude were astounding. (…) I kept a promise I made to the child three years ago. He succeeded. Not only was it a challenge for him, it was a huge challenge for me as well,” Bowman said.
KJ Yossman contributed to this report.