Hours after winning gold, Léon Marchand was back in the pool


NANTERRE, France (AP) — Hours after winning a pair of gold medals, French star swimmer Léon Marchand was back in the pool Thursday morning in front of his adoring fans.


What You Need To Know

  • The face of the Games so far for France, Marchand had a Michael Phelps-like performance Wednesday night
  • Marchand was back for the preliminary heats of the 200 individual medley Thursday. He swam easily and recorded the third fastest time to advance
  • Getting the fourth gold might be the easy part. His American coach Bob Bowman — who coached Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals — knows the next phase may be more demanding for the 22-year-old
  • Bowman coached Marchand at Arizona State before moving on to coach Texas. Marchand turned pro and followed Bowman to Austin, and the coach says he’ll have to deal with a new level of attention from sponsors and fans back home

The face of the Games so far for France, Marchand had a Michael Phelps-like performance Wednesday night. He chased down world-record holder and defending Olympic champion Kristóf Milák to win the 200-meter butterfly in 1 minute 51.21 seconds and then claimed the 200 breaststroke about two hours later in 2:05.85.

Marchand was back for the preliminary heats of the 200 individual medley Thursday. He swam easily and recorded the third fastest time to advance.

Daiya Seto of Japan clocked 1:57.48 with Marchand third in 1:57.86.

Marchand now has three gold medals in individual events in Paris and will go for his fourth on Friday night in the final 200 individual medley.

That may complete his haul in Paris in front of adoring, chanting, flag-waving fans at the La Defense Arena. It’s unclear if he will swim any relays for France, which is not considered a medal contender in those events.

Getting the fourth gold might be the easy part. His American coach Bob Bowman — who coached Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals — knows the next phase may be more demanding for the 22-year-old.

“He’s gotta survive the success,” Bowman said after Wednesday’s two-gold haul. “He’s gotta come out of what’s next, and he has no idea.”

Bowman coached Marchand at Arizona State before moving on to coach Texas. Marchand turned pro and followed Bowman to Austin, and the coach says he’ll have to deal with a new level of attention from sponsors and fans back home.

“I know exactly what’s next,” Bowman said. “Find his way back to a pool in Austin, Texas, and go start going up and down it. That will be the challenge.”

  • Spectrum News 1 South Texas / El Paso

    Related Posts

    Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes That Will Save You Time

    Published Nov. 16, 2020Updated Nov. 20, 2025 When planning a festive Thanksgiving menu, it’s important to take into account time and real estate as much as taste. What will fit…

    Our Staff’s Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes | Thanksgiving Recipes 2024 | NYT Cooking

    Published Nov. 5, 2020Updated Nov. 10, 2025 Cooking a new recipe for Thanksgiving is a risk. An uncle might complain. An aunt might forbid it. The recipe could take longer…

    You Missed

    Mugabe's son pleads guilty to pointing a gun in South Africa

    • By admin
    • April 17, 2026
    • 0 views
    Mugabe's son pleads guilty to pointing a gun in South Africa

    Opinion | When Older Women Date Younger Men

    • By admin
    • April 16, 2026
    • 2 views
    Opinion | When Older Women Date Younger Men

    South African opposition figure sentenced to five years

    • By admin
    • April 16, 2026
    • 2 views
    South African opposition figure sentenced to five years

    How the Iran War, Then the U.S. Blockade, Has Changed the Strait of Hormuz: Maps

    How the Iran War, Then the U.S. Blockade, Has Changed the Strait of Hormuz: Maps

    Why insurance giant Travelers’ CTO is placing fewer, bigger bets on AI

    Why insurance giant Travelers’ CTO is placing fewer, bigger bets on AI

    Four killed in second Turkish school shooting in two days

    • By admin
    • April 15, 2026
    • 3 views
    Four killed in second Turkish school shooting in two days