Marchant had already taken America by storm

Guillaume Marion, Media365: Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 6:20 pm.

From the summer of 2021, US-based Leon Marchant continues to shine on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, where swimming enthusiasts seem to have already fallen under his spell.

Apparently, it didn’t take long for Leon Marchant to make a name for himself in America. A student at Arizona State University in Tempe (a suburb of Phoenix) since the summer of 2021, the Toulouse native quickly accepted everyone. After shining at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest (winning gold in the 200m medley and 400m medley), The great hope of French swimming (20 years old) was once again spoken for in Minneapolis this week. In fact, during the NCAA Championships, Marchand was largely dominant with two world records in the 200-yard medley and the 400-yard medley. On the other side of the Atlantic, Toulouse’s popularity is such that some do not hesitate to compare him to American legend Michael Phelps. “He has already reached heights that Michael never reached in such a short period of time. Sometimes I don’t doubt his ability more than Michael. One of his teammates, Grant House, cheers.

“He’s one of those game changers.”

If the latter’s objectivity is questioned, Rowdy Gaines, especially known as the voice of swimming in the US, has plenty in the same direction. “There isn’t a Leon in a generation. Johnny Weissmuller, Mark Spitz, Michael Phelps or Katie Ledecky have a chance to be part of this line of the best swimmers in history. It’s not yet, but almost. (…) He is a game changer. Now there is no one to compare him.The three-time gold medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games says confidently, even someone a little closer to him, in comments collected by Le Parisian. (…) I know in France we like underdogs, but here we like winners. That is why he is so popular. Just look at how popular it is on social media. After distinguishing himself during the university championships in the United States, Marchant will logically be expected during the 2023 worlds in Fukuoka (July 14 to 30). A new important step for the French before the Paris 2024 Olympics.