Does Marchand have a shot at pursuing Phelps?

Leon Marchand has been making waves in the swimming field for a few years now, but he has the potential to become a global star if he continues to do what he did at the World Championships in Budapest.

The 20-year-old Frenchman recorded the second-fastest time in men’s 400m individual medley (IM) history—closest to Michael Phelps’s 4:03.84 in 10 years—to win his first world title.

brutal third leg

Indeed, after a brutal third stage in the breaststroke, Marchand was well inside the world record pace, stopping the clock at 4:04.28, the fastest time in a cloth suit, before fading slightly in the freestyle.

The record he is chasing has an aura. It is the oldest of any Olympic distance, and was set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by the famous Phelps, widely regarded as the greatest swimmer of all time, the day before he finished second in the 400 m freestyle relay. Helped to set an old record.

So, the fact that Marchand threatened it so early in his career has excited swimming fans.

“Now I can call myself a good swimmer,” he said. “I didn’t really think I’d swim 4:04. I hit the wall and saw that little light that said we were the first. It’s really huge, a ‘wow’ feeling. I still get it Didn’t know what I did. I was struggling a bit to a crawl. But I think I can do it next time.”

If anyone had a chance to ‘do’, you would struggle to choose a better swimmer than Marchand.

inherited athletic gifts

He has inherited extraordinary athletic gifts from his parents. Young Leon won his world gold 24 years after his father Xavier took silver in the 200m medley at the World Championships in Perth. and his mother Celine Bonnet set French records for the 100m and 200m medley.

Being born into a family of world-class competitive swimmers also meant an early immersion in the sport, both literally and figuratively, with expert knowledge guiding their development.

“My mother always gave me a lot of advice on the 400m medley, my father too,” Marchand said. “He supported me every day and gave me a lot of advice about everything. He told me long ago that swimming is very hard. To be at this level today, you need to train a lot. You need to be very serious and just dedicated to swimming.”

The mindset is friendly to Marchand and his family. “Because he had to wake up with me every day to get me into training,” he said with a laugh.

perfect guide

Marchand also has the perfect guide for breaking Phelps’ 400m medley world record: the man who guided Phelps to greatness.

After finishing sixth in the 400m IM at the Tokyo Olympics in 1919, Marchand left his native Toulouse to transfer to Arizona State University, where Phelps’ former mentor Bob Bowman coached.

“I’m so happy to swim with [Bowman] Because he has experience and knows how to train the 400 IM,” said the Frenchman. “Bob in training creates an environment for me every day that allows me to work really hard and improve , whether it is mentally or physically. Every workout is interesting. When I come out of practice, I tell myself ‘I’ve improved’.

“It’s solid. I don’t do laps to do laps. I feel like I’m more proficient at what I do. I’ve improved a lot in the backstroke and breaststroke. As I go into competitions, that gives me a lot.” Let’s give peace, they have a very precise plan.”

With Bowman monitoring his progress, Marchand has access to precious insider information on where Phelps was at a similar stage of his development and the specifics of how the great man trained on hitting the plateaus.

“Bob already told me I look like Phelps because I’m capable of giving it my all, no matter what the circumstances,” Marchand told olympics.com. “Even if I don’t get a lot of sleep or have a bad day, I can still be consistent and do my best at training every day. Sometimes Bob tells me that Michael got time like this and such Obviously, I compare myself but it’s not the best thing. But it inspires me. I’m curious to know more such things.”

Bowman credits Marchand’s upbringing and early coaching for the swimmer’s astonishing growth.

“First of all, most of the credit for this swim goes to Nicolas Castell, Lyon’s longtime coach in France,” Bowman told Swimming World. “He did a fantastic job of teaching them the skills, gradually introducing them to training and bringing them to the Olympic level. I was very happy with the way he divided the races [at the Worlds] And managed his energy throughout. Leon works harder than anyone else, so he deserves this swim. I’m excited to see him move forward.”

Incredible swim: When Marchand stopped the clock at 4:04.28 in the 400m individual medley at the recent Budapest Worlds, it was second-fastest behind Phelps’s 4:03.84. , photo credit: Getty Images

Boman also appreciated Marchand’s approach and attitude. “As a person, I was amazed at how humble and kind he was. As an athlete, I was amazed at how good he was underwater. His kicking underwater was amazing and I don’t even know it Was how cool it was at the time.

“As a person, he has grown a lot, just to be independent and manage everything by himself. I think in swimming, he has accepted every challenge and has a lot of confidence because of the way he is. Every step of the way he has reached the next level. I think in general he has an open mind and that’s a great trait.”

‘Cool’ relationship with Phelps

Although Marchand has not yet met Phelps in person, they already have a “cool” relationship.

“I spoke [Phelps] bit by message and he’s always texting Bob so I have some news about him,” Marchand said. “He told me if I had any questions, I shouldn’t hesitate to ask. We talk, he helps me – that’s great!”

Marchand’s time at Arizona State University, where he lives on campus with classes close to the pool, has also helped him better understand his competitive mindset. He shone in his first season at the college championships in March, when he set an NCAA record in the 200m medley and won the 200m breaststroke.

“The NCAA meeting is a very intense meeting,” he said. “I think I’ve learned a lot about myself. I need to have fun racing. In the beginning I had trouble managing the pressure. It came little by little but now it’s much better than before. Mine The goal is to be at your best with this challenge, with this pressure, in the water.

Marchand’s work is still in progress; He also needs to prove his Budapest performance (he won 200m IM gold and 200m butterfly silver) isn’t a flash in the pan.

And while Phelps’ accolades are intimidating – 23 Olympic gold medals, 26 world titles (long courses) – Marchand is focusing on himself, being careful not to get bogged down in comparisons if he can help it. Now that he has a world double, he has his eyes set on the Olympics in 2024.

“The goal is to win a gold medal someday,” he said. “I think Paris will be a good time, because I’ll be 22. I won’t be too old or too young. Since Tokyo, I’ve felt more confident and relaxed in every competition. I’m one of the best in the world.” I feel able to fight together. Earlier I saw them as living gods. Now I come in this category of swimmers.”