Leon Marchand Named World Male Swimmer of the Year; Momentum Carrying Into Olympic Campaign
Even for the great ones, it’s never easy to walk into a major competition under intense scrutiny and saddled by lofty expectations. This was the scenario encountered by France’s Leon Marchand as he ventured to Japan this past summer for the latest edition of the World Championships. Would he deliver on his vast promise? Would there be a pitfall? Could anyone emerge and stun the Frenchman?
The answers to those aforementioned questions: Yes. No. No.
Over the past few years, Marchand has etched himself as one of the elite athletes in the sport, a man with vast skill in all strokes and the mental fortitude to excel when the stakes are highest. So, when the 21-year-old stormed to three titles at the World Champs in Japan, it was hardly a shock. Really, it was an anticipated outcome, and simply enhanced the excitement over what Marchand might manage at a home Olympic Games in Paris next year.
By mining three gold medals at the World Champs—and breaking a world record that was iconic—Marchand vaulted himself to selection as Swimming World’s Male World Swimmer of the Year. Marchand captured the honor convincingly over China’s Qin Haiyang, who swept the breaststroke events at Worlds and was named Male Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year.
Before Marchand headed to the World Champs, the front half of his year was defined by greatness on the American collegiate scene. As Arizona State University finished second in the team standings at the NCAA Championships, Marchand broke a trio of records in the 200 yard individual medley, 400 IM and 200 breaststroke. The college season also included stunning efforts in the freestyle and butterfly disciplines, and generated intrigue for what was to come in the big pool.
Of course, Marchand delivered with three epic performances at Fukuoka’s Marine Messe Hall. En route to victory in the 200 butterfly and 200 IM, Marchand became the No. 3 performer in history in each event (he has since been bumped to fourth in the 200 IM). But it was his outing in the 400 IM that placed Marchand in rarefied company. Covering the decathlon of the sport in 4:02.50, Marchand wiped more than a second off Michael Phelps’ 2008 world record of 4:03.84 and finished more than four seconds clear of silver medalist Carson Foster of the United States.
Phelps was on hand as the last of his world records was erased, and the 28-time Olympic medalist was mesmerized by what Marchand accomplished. Given their shared coach in Bob Bowman, Phelps had a unique appreciation for what went into the first global standard of Marchand’s career. As for Marchand, he cherished the first world mark of his fledgling career.
“That was insane,” Marchand said of his effort. “That was one of the most painful things I did. The best is yet to come.”
If not for a scheduling conflict, Marchand could have contended for a fourth medal at the World Championships. For the year, he ranked third globally in the 200 breaststroke, an event that might figure into his plans for the Paris Games. Come the 2024 Olympics, Marchand will have to make a decision between the 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke.
Meanwhile, one of the keys in the Olympic year will be Marchand’s ability to handle the spotlight that will come with a home Olympiad. But with Bowman managing his training and extracurriculars such as media obligations, Marchand is certainly in good hands.
Without question, another big year is on the horizon.
“It remains to be seen what he can do next year. It’s going to be a lot of expectations,” Bowman said. “But I feel like he’s done a very good rehearsal this year and last year. They’ve been good preparations for what will happen next year, and we’ll try to carry that over to Paris.”
