Nobody will forget the name of Leon Marchand after his 2024 run. Despite being 22, Marchand went on to win four gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He did not just win. He also broke four Olympic records in the process. Marchand won the 400-meter individual medley, clocking 4:02.95. Meanwhile, he clocked 1:51.21 in the 200-meter butterfly and 2:05.85 in the 200-meter breaststroke. These wins, of course, made Leon Marchand a name on only sports enthusiasts’ lips.

But the moment that put him in the limelight was not the Paris Olympics but the 2023 World Championships. It was during the same that Marchand broke his French predecessor Michael Phelps’ 400m record. With that moment, Marchand unknowingly catapulted into fame. While Marchand continues to be the same introverted person, brands have decided to bring him into the spotlight. The result? A bunch of really good sponsorship and endorsement deals!

Learn about the major endorsement deals of Leon Marchand

Leon Marchand today has partnerships with some of the biggest names in luxury. This includes names like Louis Vuitton and Omega, which were prominent sponsors of the Paris 2024 Olympics. LVMH, previously known for keeping the branding restricted to certain fields, opened the doors for Marchand. LVMH did not just sponsor him but also designed the trunk for the Olympic flame. Meanwhile, Omega, the official timekeeper of the Games, celebrated him after his wins.

Omega went on to feature Marchand as a brand ambassador and even equipped him with a special edition Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope watch for the medal ceremonies. Apart from the luxuries of life, without being an official sponsor, brands like Speedo have benefitted from partnerships with Marchand. As per La Tribune reports, Marchand is in a position of demanding over a million per year per contract. And the highest estimation goes into about $1.5 million.

The biggest deal that Marchand signed, perhaps, was with LVMH itself. The brand invested around 150 million euros in the Games, including sponsoring athletes like Marchand. Although Marchand remains selective about the brands he partners with to avoid being a “walking advertisement,” it unfortunately is inescapable. As long as he continues to rise, so shall his endorsements and deals. But before the world of advertisement claims him, let’s take a look at his journey.

Leon Marchand’s journey toward a successful swimming career

Leon Marchand’s swimming adventures begin in Toulouse, where he was born into a family of swimming greatness. His father, Xavier Marchand, is a former world silver medalist, while his mother, Céline Bonnet, is a French record-holder. This foundation and shared love for swimming pushed Marchand to the pools despite his initial years being rather stressful. By the time Leon turned 17, he was already winning. The same year, he won the 200m butterfly at the Junior World Championships in Budapest.

However, the real turning point in Leon’s life came in 2021. Marchand decided to leave behind his then-coach, Nicolas Castel, to join Arizona State University. But why ASU? Well, that’s where Bob Bowman, the legendary coach of Michael Phelps, was at then! The decision was perhaps the best one Leon Marchand has ever made. Soon after, in 2022, he went on to win five World Championship titles. And then, of course, came the era of breaking records: the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite all the wins, the season is not over for Marchand.

Next stop? Leon Marchand will be prepping for the World Cup that starts on October 18th in Shanghai and will continue until mid-November. If that seemed easy, Marchand will also be seen at the World Short Course Championships in Budapest, Hungary (December 10–15). Marchand is evidently on top of his game, and without breaking much momentum, he is moving from one win to another. But adding another layer of intrigue to these upcoming competitions is the fact that Marchand will not be seen with Bob Bowman.

But instead, with his old coach, Nicoles Castel. The upcoming competitions will be the ultimate litmus test and the best chance to prove what Leon Marchand can do even if Bob Bowman’s Midas touch is far away.