Impressed by Leon Marchand’s Paris Olympic Wins, Team Hong Kong Exporse Family-Ties To Reap Similar Sucess

The air was electric in Paris, the anticipation thick as athletes from around the world converged for the ultimate test of human endurance and skill. Amid the frenzy, whispers of an emerging legend began to swirl—Leon Marchand, a name that would soon echo through Olympic history.

It all started quietly enough. Just days before his historic triumphs, Marchand could be found, almost anonymously, at the Paris La Defense Arena. There, he honed his craft with a singular focus, every stroke in the pool a step closer to destiny. Little did the world know, a storm was brewing beneath those waters.

Leon’s monumental rise to glory; An inspiration for many

Friday arrived, and with it, the 200m individual medley. The crowd, a cacophony of cheers and gasps, watched in awe as Marchand moved through the water with a blend of grace and power that seemed almost otherworldly. When he touched the wall, the clock revealed the impossible: another gold. This wasn’t just a victory; it was a seismic shift in the world of swimming. Marchand had done it—he had secured four gold medals, becoming the first male swimmer to achieve this since Michael Phelps in Beijing 2008.

The ripples of his success spread far beyond the pool. In the corridors of the Olympic Village, other athletes felt the tremors of his achievements. Inspired by his relentless pursuit of perfection, the Hong Kong cycling team sought to capture some of Marchand’s lightning in a bottle. Ceci Lee Sze-wing, a determined 23-year-old cyclist, was particularly moved. As she prepared for her own Paris campaign, she immersed herself in the strategies and ethos that fueled Marchand’s meteoric rise

With guidance from Marchand’s uncle and father, both experienced Olympians, the Hong Kong team aims to gain a competitive edge in their own success.

Head coach Herve Dagorne- who was the part of 1988 and 1992 Olympics, brings a wealth of experience. Dagorne, a member of the French team track quartet in Seoul and Barcelona, is also friends with Marchand’s father Xavier- a former medley swimmer from France. Now taking their advice from them, Dagorne alongside these 2 athletes Ceci Lee Sze-wing and Vincent Lau Wan has moved from their training camp in Brittany to the Olympic Village.

Their relocation shows a strategic effort to boost their performance, drawing inspiration from Marchand’s golden achievements. But was it so easy for them to adjust there?

Using Leon Marchand’s inner circle insights to shift the tide for Lee’s success

Entering the Olympic Village presented a significant challenge for Dagorne and his team. Reduced to a small group with new support staff, the atmosphere was one of palpable anticipation as Ceci Lee Sze-wing and Vincent Lau Wan-yau were left with just each other after their teammates departed. Dagorne leveraged his connections with Leon Marchand’s family saying, “I am really close with the father and uncle of Leon Marchand, so I spoke with them. They explained how everything was, some problems with transport and their access to the swimming pool.”

The insights he received about handling transport issues and venue access proved useful. The French Swimming Federation’s arrangement of a nearby apartment for Marchand, to minimize travel between the pool and the village, highlighted their perfect planning. Similarly, the Hong Kong Sports Institute had set up accommodation for Lee’s omnium event, but the tight schedule rendered this unnecessary, as the four omnium races were condensed into a single, intense three-hour window.

Lee’s Olympic journey begins with the demanding 158km women’s road race, which stirred some debate. As there were widespread complaints about the city’s preparedness and the high costs associated with hosting the event, creating a cloud of negativity. Dagorne feared these issues might overshadow the Games and impact the athletes’ performances.

As Paris buzzes with excitement over Marchand’s achievements, Dagorne remains optimistic despite earlier doubts about the Games. With France and Hong Kong both achieving notable successes, Dagorne encourages Lee to draw inspiration from other athletes’ performances and focus on making the most of her opportunities.