The Olympics is a battleground for those who will crack under pressure. Legendary swimmer Florent Manaudou, a seasoned Olympian, knows this all too well. Florent has swum his way to six Olympic medals after all. In a recent interview, he went on to reflect on the pressures of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Amidst the crowds, one man from Florent’s homeland stood out. The man is none other than Leon Marchand.

But it’s not just Leon’s speed that stood out to Manaudou. “Honestly, what Leon did in the home Olympics at 22 years old, with the pressure he had, that’s impressive,” said Manaudou, fully knowing the gravity of pressures. “I’m responsible for the happiness during the Olympics, and it’s a bad side of the home Olympics. You feel a bit more pressure, and I’m happy that I was 33 years old and not 22 years old.”

To both Florent Manaudou and the world, Leon Marchand’s ability to thrive under pressure has been nothing short of inspiring. And how could it be? Marchand, after all, won four gold medals and broke several Olympic records, all in just one Olympics. “I knew that Leon would be fast,” Manaudou admitted, “but to perform like this in this pool at this moment, that’s what impressed me the most.”

Despite the loud cries of support, Manaudou was not always sure of Marchand’s win. “I mean, I knew that he would swim both finals, but Kristof Milak against him? It’s not easy,” said Florent. Speculations and expectations ran high: “But this last 15—come on! I’m happy to be his teammate, you know? In this moment, super happy,” he added. Florent, gushing about Leon, went on to say more. And this time, it is about Leon’s mental game. Something that Florent knows has been hard-earned.

“This guy is an inspiration, you know? It feels like the pressure is sliding off him.” Florent went on to credit Marchand’s mental coach, Thomas Sammut, for shaping his mindset. “If you’re happy, you can perform a bit better, I think. So I’m impressed, and I’m proud to have been in the Olympics with Leon.” When Manaudou says he’s proud, he means it. Concluding, he went on to say something special and wholesome. “I’ll tell the story in 40 years to my kids,” he added with a grin. However, despite the world celebrating his triumphs, not everyone is fully convinced.

Despite All the Glory, Leon Marchand is Not Without Critics!

Leon Marchand may be untouchable in the pool, but the story outside it is a little more complex. Bob Bowman—the man behind Michael Phelps’ rise and Marchand’s coach—recently went on to reflect on Leon’s Paris performance.

Bowman was all praise, but he went on to say, “I don’t think he’s anything near what he’s capable of doing.” Despite Leon Marchand’s wins in Paris being some of the most versatile and impressive performances, Bob Bowman remains far from satisfied.

Bowman, without holding anything back, went on to add, “I think there are definitely things that he can change and continue to develop over time and in the next four years. I think there’s plenty of room for him to go fast.” To Bowman, swimming is not just about speed and technique; it is more than that.

“It’s the holistic package—strength, things away from the pool like recovery modalities.” With Bowman’s insights, it’s clear that despite the sabbatical away from Bob with his new coach, Nicolas Castel, Leon Marchand’s future looks just as promising.