Two months after the Paris Olympics, swimmers are back in the water for another global showdown—the Swimming World Cup 2024. According to the timetable given by World Aquatics, Shanghai in China has assumed the position of host. However, several swimmers who made it big in the French metropolis have entered the bustling Chinese city to compete in the pools. Team USA has sent stars like Regan Smith and Kate Douglass to the mix, but big names like Caeleb Dressel? They’ve opted to sit this one out. Not that it matters much, because despite Dressel’s absence, his presence was felt thanks to Team France’s golden boy, Leon Marchand!

Now, Dressel has long been the king of the men’s 100m individual medley, holding the world record at a blazing 49.28 seconds. But with Dressel skipping Shanghai, the stage was set for Marchand, fresh off his Paris glory, to light it up again. Last night, in true Marchand fashion, he delivered another stellar performance. If you thought his two golds in Paris at La Defense Arena (in the 200m and 400m IM) were a peak moment, think again. Shanghai got its own dose of Marchand magic.

In a close battle, Leon Marchand outperformed Noe Ponti in the men’s 100-meter IM event. He took 50.65 seconds to top the leaderboard, while Ponti finished his race in 50.66 seconds. The real kicker, though? Marchand was spotted wearing Caeleb Dressel’s swim cap during the race, which sent fans into an absolute frenzy.

After the event, when asked why he sported Dressel’s cap, Marchand didn’t hold back: “Because he’s a legend. I just love that guy. He inspired me a lot and really helped me with my mental health as well. We exchanged caps at the Olympics. I was proud to wear his cap.” But wait. There’s more! Dressel chimed in on Instagram, teasing Marchand with a cheeky “Nice cap,” to which Leon replied, “Cap of a legend.” Moments like this are bound to be a fitting tribute to someone who once raided the events in the short course swimming.

Caeleb Dressel missed the Swimming World Cup this time. But in the 2020-21 season, he set himself as a super performer in the short events. He exemplified that tag by setting up the world record in the men’s 100-meter IM event. The record came in the final of the ISL 2020 season. However, on the previous day, he had achieved another world record in the men’s 100m butterfly event (47.78). If you think two records in a final are enough to satisfy Dressel, you are mistaken. 

In the same final, Caeleb Dressel set his world record. On November 21, he tore down the previous one to set up the fresh (20.16). He also has a few medals on his cabinet after winning the relay events in the Swimming World Cup. Just like in China, he secured the gold medal in the mixed 4x50m freestyle event in 2018.

Performances like those have made Caeleb Dressel a legend in the short course pool. Leon Marchand’s dedication to him last night made it clear that Dressel has no opponents, only fans. At the same time, the French phenom displayed his emotions after standing up to his mentor’s expectations. 

Leon Marchand vows to continue with his newly discovered fun 

In the Paris Olympics, the stakes were high for Leon Marchand. He had to mark himself competent enough to be the Next Phelps in front of his home crowd. The ASU standout invested his full ability and, as a result, he claimed four gold medals, including the one snagged in the 400m IM event. The event stands to be his backyard, especially proving his mettle by decimating Michael Phelps’s record in that event. But as per his coach, Bob Bowman, Leon Marchand is more than the 400m IM specialist. 

Before the Swimming World Cup 2024, Bowman ultimately said, “I think you’ll see in the World Cups that he’ll play with different events and see what happens… I think he’s definitely going to look at not just doing the 400 IM full go this year.” And last night, Leon Marchand proved his coach right.

Leon Marchand didn’t just win; he relished the intense battle with Noe Ponti in the 100m IM, where he narrowly edged him out. Post-race, the French phenom couldn’t hide his excitement: “I thought it was really exciting to race Noè Ponti, and it was a really close race. I will race the 100IM event at every stop of the World Cup.” Now the real question: Are we witnessing the rise of the next Caeleb Dressel? Marchand’s versatility, fire, and dominance mirror the American titan—but what do you think?