The Arizona State Sun Devils snagged a huge commit on Sunday out of French national record holder Leon Marchand from France. Marchand won the bronze medal in the 400 IM at the 2019 World Juniors with a 4:16.37, which stands as the national record for France as he was ranked 40th in the world in 2019.
Leon Marchand swims for Nicolas Castel at The Dolphins in Toulouse as he will join Bob Bowman and company at Arizona State in the fall of 2021. Bowman has had a rich history of training 400 IM’ers, guiding Michael Phelps to the sport’s pinnacle in 2004 and 2008, with the latter setting a world record that is still standing 12 years later. He also coached Chase Kalisz to a silver medal in the event at the 2016 Games.
Leon Marchand is also a strong breaststroker as he won the bronze medal in the 200 breast at the 2019 European Juniors with a 2:12, and also finished 10th at World Juniors with a 2:15.
He made the final at the World Juniors in the 200 IM (2:01.53) and the 200 butterfly (1:58.73), placing seventh in both events. In the 100 breaststroke, he was 15th and didn’t advance past the semi finals.
Leon Marchand will be joining an Arizona State team that is redshirting this season after coming off an unofficial seventh place finish at the 2020 NCAAs before the meet was cancelled to slow down the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Marchand has not raced in short course yards, his long course times put him among the best of the best in the United States. His 400 IM is faster than any male in the class of 2021. Arizona State’s best 400 IM’er in 2020 was Benjamin Olszewski (3:44.62)
Léon Marchand’s Best Times (LCM)
- 100 Breast: 1:02.38
- 200 Breast: 2:12.17
- 100 Fly: 53.70
- 200 Fly: 1:58.73
- 200 IM: 2:00.66
- 400 IM: 4:16.37