A Parisian Party: Gold from Leon Marchand Enables Host Nation a Special Celebration
The atmosphere inside the Water Cube at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing took appreciation of the sport to another level. The spectators offered rhythmic clapping, booming applause, piercing shrieks and plenty of whistles. It was a scene befitting the occasion – the fastest swim meet in history, conducted inside a dazzling venue.
Of course, Michael Phelps was a prime beneficiary of the crowd’s adoration. A record eight-gold haul was reason for the deep gratitude and provided the 17,000 fans with an “I was there when…” story. Embellishment being a hallmark of social interaction, that total figures to be significantly higher these days.
But that August week’s biggest explosion was saved for the final of the women’s 200-meter butterfly. The overwhelmingly Chinese crowd erupted when Liu Zige and Jiao Liuyang shot off the blocks and produced a gold-silver outcome, with both women dipping under the world record. The deafening roar that accompanied each stroke was amplified at the finish and again during the medals ceremony, when the building seemingly shook.
The opportunity to celebrate home-nation athletes is a defining characteristic of the Olympic Games. Fans are united through loyalty to their flag and the chance to sing their national anthem. The key is having an athlete who can deliver a level of excellence that will promote a uniquely memorable atmosphere.
The French are fortunate.
Over the past few years, Leon Marchand has emerged as the sport’s leading male star, a multi-event standout who will contest four individual events in front of home fans in Paris. As a world-record holder and world champion, Marchand expected pressure as he headed to the French capital. But with the support of American coach Bob Bowman, who first guided Marchand at Arizona State and now in Austin, Texas, Marchand has been adept at handling the squeeze of being the Face of the Games.
The 22-year-old was crowned an Olympic gold medalist at the La Defense Arena on Sunday night, thanks to an Olympic-record performance (4:02.95) in the 400 individual medley. The reaction of the crowd was exactly what was expected – organized mayhem. It started with roars during the pre-race introductions, then shouts that necessitated a wait for silence. Once in the water, Marchand was buoyed by constant chants, particularly during the breaststroke leg.
The dominance of Marchand in the 400 IM allowed for a coronation of sorts. In down-to-the-touch races, fans can be limited in their exuberance, unable to celebrate until the outcome is determined. With Marchand racing far ahead of the field, the French embarked on four minutes of free-flowing enjoyment – then an additional post-race salute, and another party during the medals ceremony.
“It was almost like a football stadium, but in a pool,” Marchand said of the atmosphere after the morning prelims. “Everyone was chanting my name. It was crazy.”
It got wilder at night.
Most Olympiads feature a special moment for the home nation, and swimming has provided its share through the years. There was the air-guitar victory by the Aussies in the 400 freestyle relay at the 2000 Games in Sydney. In 2012, as the defending champion in the 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle, Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington was feted by the Brits as she strolled to the starting blocks in London.
One of the many damning aspects of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was the lack of spectators, who were kept home by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Japanese didn’t get to honor their home-grown heroes through their voices and applause. Imagine the roars Yui Ohashi would have received for each of her individual medley victories?
The French were provided that chance, and took advantage.
“I’m not sure there’s been anything like this,” Bowman said. “It was amazing, really, to have that home-team energy. It’s crazy. I feel like it was something that I haven’t really seen at a meet.”
For the host, Sunday night will go down as an epic night in its sporting lore. A national son became an Olympic champion and 17,000 spectators were invited to join the celebration.
It’s a beautiful part of the Games.
