Who is Léon Marchand who won gold for France?

Léon Marchand, a French swimmer from Toulouse, has been making a name for himself in the swimming world. With his impressive records and gold medal wins, he’s being compared to the legendary Michael Phelps. But who is Léon Marchand, and what makes him a rising star in swimming?

The Rise of a Swimming Superstar

Born in Toulouse, France, Marchand has been a rising star in swimming over the last two Olympic cycles. His father, Xavier Marchand, was a former Olympic swimmer and world silver medalist, and his mother, Céline Bonnet, is a French record-holder in the sport.

It’s no surprise that Marchand has followed in their footsteps, making his Olympic debut at 19 and competing in three relays and the men’s 200-meter butterfly at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Breaking Records and Making History

Since the Tokyo games, Marchand has become a swimming sensation. He joined the Arizona State University (ASU) swim and dive team, where he trained under highly touted coach Bob Bowman, who was Phelps’ coach during his dominance.

At ASU, Marchand broke NCAA records in almost every event he swam in, including the 200 individual medley, 200 breaststroke, 500 freestyle, and more.

He even broke Phelps’ 400 individual medley record in 2023 at the world championships with a 4:02.50.

The Next Big Star in Swimming?

Marchand’s success has drawn comparisons to Phelps, who dominated the sport for nearly two decades. Like Phelps, Marchand is gearing up for his second Olympics, and many are wondering if he could be the next big star in swimming.

With his impressive records and gold medal wins, Marchand is certainly on track to do so.

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