“Most Difficult Point”: Leon Marchand Exposes USA’s Biggest Flaw After Leaving France for Bob Bowman

Leon Marchand’s showing at the Paris Olympics has been incredible. In just six days, the 22-year-old from Toulouse won four gold medals, crushing it in the 400m individual medley, 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke, and 200m medley, all with Olympic record times. His 59-year-old coach was moved to tears, watching it all happen. Even though Marchand represents France in swimming he is coached rather by an American trainer.

Marchand owes much of his success to Bob Bowman. The coach played a pivotal role in molding Michael Phelps into the iconic figure he eventually became at the Olympics. Bowman not only unearthed Phelps but also steered him towards an impressive haul of 23 Olympic gold medals and a total of 28. A remarkable record that remains unbroken, to this day. As Marchand continues to accumulate gold medals at a rate of Phelps it’s difficult not to draw parallels, between the two and see Marchand as treading a similar path to greatness.

In 2021 Marchand took a big career step by relocating from France to the United States to train with Bowman in pursuit of advancing his career prospects to heights which proved successful as evidenced by his remarkable showings, at the Paris Olympics but along the way he faced difficulties. In a recent YouTube video by Clique TV titled “Léon Marchand: le grand débrief des JO – CANAL+,” he opened up about the biggest hurdle he faced to reach this high position.

Leon Marchand discussed the stark differences in food between France and the United States, saying, “Because in France and the United States, it’s not the same food; the foods are not the same, even the vegetables are different.” He found this transition quite challenging, describing it as “the hardest point.” He added, “Yeah, that was very difficult. It was the most difficult point, I think, because, well, there’s no cheese, no baguettes, no sausage—there are not many things I love in France.”

Marchand explained that the food in the U.S. tends to be fattier and sweeter, which posed a problem for him as a high-level athlete. Dining in the cafeteria meant that options like fries and sandwiches were abundant, but he missed the quality and variety of French cuisine. “Even their organic food isn’t the same organic food we have; nothing is the same,” he emphasized, noting that the produce felt overly processed and unnatural.

Maintaining his weight and fueling his body for training became increasingly difficult. “In the U.S., they recommend eating five times a day when you’re a high-level athlete, which is generally what we do every day,” he explained. This approach was essential for sustaining energy during his rigorous training schedule, which began early in the morning. “I have training from 6 to 8 in the morning, and I’m not hungry at 5 a.m.,” he shared.

“So we’re all like that; we eat again before training, after training, before classes, after classes.” Despite these challenges, Marchand ultimately adapted to his new environment and continued to excel in the water. But how did they meet?

The unlikely partnership of Leon Marchand and Bob Bowman

Bowman, the guiding force behind Marchand’s journey, took a new opportunity at the University of Texas, and without hesitation, Marchand followed. Moving to Austin was a significant decision, but for Marchand, staying under Bowman’s wing was non-negotiable—it was about continuing the progress they had made together. In a surprising move, Bowman stepped away from his duties as the head coach for the U.S. swimming team and joined the French coaching staff as an assistant. His focus? Preparing Marchand for the biggest stage of all—the home Olympics in Paris. This decision certainly raised eyebrows, especially given Bowman’s legacy as a key figure in American swimming for over two decades. But it allowed him to coach an eclectic group of talent, including American backstroker Regan Smith and Hungarian star Hubert Kos, both of whom trained side-by-side with Marchand.

Hubert Kos captured Bowman’s impact perfectly: “The magic touch is the work. He doesn’t let us be second-best. He doesn’t let us stoop down to a level he doesn’t want from us. That brings out the best in us.” And that’s exactly what Bowman did for Marchand—he cultivated an environment where good wasn’t good enough, where greatness was the only option. With Bowman in his corner, Marchand was more than ready to make history, and when La Défense Arena in Paris became the stage, Marchand delivered a performance that was nothing short of legendary. The journey that started with a simple email from an ambitious teenager led to a golden moment on home soil—an unforgettable testament to hard work, trust, and the power of believing in something bigger.