The Rise of Léon Marchand: France’s Swimming Sensation

The French swimmer Léon Marchand is well aware that he will be the standout athlete representing his country at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. His remarkable journey has already captivated many, with event personnel frequently stopping him to capture selfies. A massive image of him poised on the starting blocks is prominently displayed on a towering skyscraper, and it seems like cameras are always focused on him wherever he appears.

However, Marchand’s ascent to stardom didn’t begin just this week. In the months leading up to the Games, his rising fame was palpable even thousands of miles away in Arizona, where he competed for Arizona State University. After a road meet at the University of Arizona, throngs of fans eagerly lined up to have him sign anything from swim caps and Nike Jordans to mere scraps of paper.

When asked if this level of attention was common at every meet, he modestly replied, “Just this year.”

At just 22 years old, Marchand has ascended to the pinnacle of the swimming world just in time for France to host the Games, making him one of the nation’s most promising hopes for Olympic gold.

Carrying the enormous weight of a nation’s aspirations can be an exceptionally heavy burden for any athlete, and Marchand will not face this challenge alone. He shares the spotlight with several other remarkable athletes, including:

• Victor Wembanyama, the towering 7-foot-4 sensation who recently completed his rookie season with the N.B.A.’s San Antonio Spurs and will lead France’s men’s basketball team.
• Teddy Riner, a legendary judoka aiming to secure a medal at his sixth consecutive Olympic Games.
• Thierry Henry, the World Cup champion, coaching France’s men’s soccer team amid intense pressure to deliver results.

The demand for success will be equally high in several sports that hold a special place in the hearts of the French, including rugby, cycling, and tennis.

Yet, swimming stands out as one of the Olympics’ premier events, casting a unique spotlight on Marchand. His profile has skyrocketed since that historic day last summer when he shattered Michael Phelps‘ last remaining world record by an impressive margin of over a second. Marchand is set to compete in four individual events in Paris, and he is a formidable contender for medals in all of them.

His first opportunity to shine will come this Sunday in his signature event—the very race that catapulted him into the limelight and knocked Phelps out of the record books: the 400-meter individual medley.