Commentary: Paris Hopes Fulfilled, Olympic Road Now Points to Los Angeles
Hope surrounds all Olympic Games. Hope for elite competition. Hope for safety – athletes and security. Hope for a largely controversy-free setting, where attention is placed on what unfolds between the lane lines, on courts and on mats. Hope for admirable farewells from veterans, their torches – actual symbols of the Games – passed to rising stars.
Nine days and 17 sessions of swimming at La Defense Arena concluded on Sunday night, world records from Bobby Finke (1500 freestyle) and the U.S. women’s medley relay highlighting the action. The road to Los Angeles has been opened, four years of travel starting immediately for some, later for others and never for the names who will part ways with that black line at the bottom of the pool.
This week-plus in France was much different than Tokyo, when the COVID-19 pandemic initially forced a one-year postponement of the Games and stole some of the personality that is inherent to an Olympiad. An energy was felt in Paris, and while a “slow” pool may have limited the meet to four world records, there were plenty of dramatic moments and tales told.
Hope was fulfilled.
The leading storyline heading into the Olympics was whether Frenchman Leon Marchand, the Bob Bowman-trained standout, could deliver on the massive expectations placed on his shoulders. Marchand returned home as the Face of the Games, a young man chasing gold – and history – in four events.
He basically became the poster boy of L’Equipe, the French daily sports newspaper – and rightfully so. During a week that drew parallels with the achievements of Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz, Marchand deftly navigated a pressurized gauntlet. En route to collecting four titles, he beat three reigning Olympic champions in head-to-head duels and had a closest victory of a half-second, that gold arriving over Hungarian Kristof Milak in the 200 butterfly.
It was a week that defined Marchand, already the current best in his sport, as an all-time great. Yet, still in his early 20s, he is an athlete who – if his coach is correct, and he usually has a good sense – will only improve and can transcend the sport as Phelps did during his reign.
“I’m just very satisfied,” Bowman said. “I’m incredibly happy for Léon because this is, well, a monumental achievement. To be able to swim as he swam in this environment, with the expectations, and at the level, I’m so proud of him. And, just very happy for him. It all happened the way I hoped it would. I don’t think we could ask for more. I tried to spend a little time just walking in the venue and remembering it all. I shed a few tears a couple of times.”
Supporters of Leon Marchand of France during the swimming 400m Individual Medley Men Final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at La Defense Arena in Paris (France), July 28, 2024.
The International Olympic Committee could not have asked for more from the spectators who filled the venues in the City of Lights, particularly the home-nation fans. The French were invested in their Games, the first for the city in a century. They cheered for all athletes, and frenetically for those clad in the blue, white and red of France.
Of course, it helped that the French sporting system has produced – into the second week of the Games – performances leading to a top three standing on the medals chart. The host is expected to flourish on home soil, and France has found a way to enhance the fifth-to-10th showings that have been typical of the country through the years.
Specifically at the pool, the atmosphere was engaging from the start, with few seats – in prelims or finals – empty. Coaches and swimmers recognized the concert-like feel, some calling it the best environment they have seen. That sentiment places pressure on Los Angeles to produce a similar vibe when SoFi Stadium accommodates 38,000 fans for the 2028 Games.
As Marchand carries men’s swimming forward, that role will fall to a 17-year-old on the women’s side. Canadian Summer McIntosh ended her stay in Paris with three gold medals and a silver, her future filled with promise. As a 21-year-old for her next (and third) Olympics, McIntosh, like Marchand, has a chance to attain legendary status.
The multi-event talent of Marchand and McIntosh offers the opportunity for both to potentially shuffle their programs in the years ahead. One day, maybe some freestyle for Marchand? Something else? For McIntosh, a run at the 200 backstroke? These options only add intrigue to the sport, and may keep things fresh for M&M.
Overall, 19 countries sent at least one athlete to the podium at La Defense Arena. Gold medals were awarded to swimmers from 13 countries. That diversity is solid, and in line with previous Games. And while the United States led the count with eight gold and 28 overall medals, the sport is better balanced than ever before.
There was hope ahead of the Paris Games that we might see a generational talent excel on his turf. There was hope for world records. There was hope for dramatic finishes.
Deliveries were made.
To Los Angeles we go.