It was just another random day for Michael Phelps’ poolside pundit Bob Bowman until a certain Marchand showed up to his inbox unannounced four years ago. The coach, who started his career in the late 1980s, had known only one man with that surname all his life—French Olympic swimmer and Léon’s father, Xavier Marchand. So, as the 22-year-old’s name popped up, Bowman was confused. “I thought about his dad. I wonder if they are related and they were, of course.”

Marchand was already an Olympian when he reached out to the revered coach. He competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 400 metre individual medley for France, placing 18th in the 200 metre individual medley (1:58.30), tenth in the 4×100 metre medley relay, sixth in the 400 metre individual medley (4:11.16), and 14th in the 200 metre butterfly (1:55.68). However, he wanted more…Encouraged by his parents to move to the US, the young swimmer wrote in his email:

Dear sir, I am a French swimmer, my name is Léon Marchand (18 years old). I would like to join the university of Arizona State in summer 2021 for swim and compete in NCAA with your amazing team. Do you think I could benefit from a scholarship? What level of education is required? (TOEFL, SAT …) You will find attached my presentation sheet. Thank you for the time granted to my request.

Sportingly, Léon

A couple of Skype calls later, the aspiring swimmer was ready to head across the pond with a full scholarship with the Sun Devils of the Arizona State University. But the US was worlds apart from his native land—his new life was so much less complicated, as was his coach. In a conversation with Loïc Prigent on Louis Vuitton’s podcast episode titled ‘Léon Marchand on Life Beyond the Medals’, the Frenchman detailed his observations.

“Yes. American coaches are really committed,” Marchand admitted. He referred to his own coach as an example. “I’ve seen him running around the pool. It’s his whole life. He’s full-on committed to what we’re doing.” However, Léon Marchand reiterated training was always in earnest. “He doesn’t mess around. He really lives it. He monitors everything, observes it all, pays attention,” Marchand further added.

And it definitely paid off, as Marchand led ASU to their first to its first national title under Bowman’s tutelage. In fact, the duo won 10 NCAA titles at ASU before heading over to the 2022 Olympic Games. In 2022, at the World Championships in Budapest, the swimming phenom won two gold medals and one silver in 200m medley, 400m medley and 200m butterfly, respectively. Then, in its 2023 edition in Fukuoka, he picked up three gold medals in the same discipline. And, of course, there’s the Paris Olympics where Marchand soared to four golds (200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 200m medley, 400m medley) and one silver (4X100m medley). 

With so much hardware, training under Bowman definitely wasn’t easy…“And in the States, there’s a university rule that you’re not allowed to put in more than 25 hours a week because there are classes as well,” the Olympian stated. However, Bowman has found a way to optimize their time well. “So he really fills the two-hour sessions well, and there isn’t much recovery time.” But all their effort came to fruition in the French capital. Amidst thunderous cheers of “Allez Léon,” he made history with four Olympic records. And what do you know? This also gave Bob Bowman a major milestone. 

Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Powerlist came out. What’s a power list, you ask? Among 50 of the most influential figures in sports, Bob Bowman’s name is listed under the Icons and Leaders category. In fact, Pat Forde’s blurb explains his status accurately. “If the United Nations of Bowman had been its own entry in Paris, its seven golds, three silvers, and one bronze would have been third in the swimming medal table, behind only the U.S. and Australia.”

We couldn’t have said it any better. But how did Léon Marchand spend his time after the Paris Olympics? 

Léon Marchand’s time outside the Olympic pool

After bagging 5 medals at the París La Défense Arena, the swimmer was long overdue for a vacation. So that’s just what he did. “I tried to enjoy it. I also took some time alone where I was able to reflect and think about what I had done.” It wasn’t until then that the Olympian understood how intense his stint was. Watching the swimming prodigy’s countrymen and women cheer him on made Bowman tear up. 

“So I have more perspective, and I am much more calm about what I did a month and a half ago.” However, after asserting himself as a formidable force in the pool, Léon Marchand had some time to ride the waves of Olympic glory. “I’m so happy to have done it. It’s a lot of work behind it, and that’s what I’m thinking about the most,” he stated.

But this left the swimmer reeling for more. “And we’re going to have to get back to work.” The only missing piece? Bob Bowman won’t be training him for a while. France’s ‘Poster Boy’ will instead train with Nicolas Castel, the very same coach who mentored him during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games. The duo will prepare for the World Short Course Championships in Budapest and the World Cup stops in Asia. 

Why isn’t he training with Bob Bowman? The veteran coach caused a stir in the swimming community by leaving a nine-season-long career with the ASU Sun Devils earlier this year. He has now taken on the director and head coach roles for the Texas Longhorns. However, Léon Marchand will join his long-time coach in Texas once this year comes to an end. So, what do you think of the swimmer’s reaction to Bob Bowman’s training method?