Léon Marchand made waves at the Paris Olympics, grabbing four gold medals and a bronze at La Defense Arena. But that was just the beginning. Now, he’s shaking things up even more by relocating to the U.S. to train with legendary coach Bob Bowman. This big move has left the fans behind, sparking a flurry of rumors and excitement.

Rumors had been swirling that Léon had turned down the chance to be coached by French swimming legend Philippe Lucas. On September 3, Philippe Lucas appeared on the show Chez Jordan and addressed the rumors that Léon had rejected him as a coach. He addressed the swirling speculation about Marchand. Lucas firmly denied the rumors, stating, “It’s bulls–t.”

Lucas also mentioned his long-standing relationship with the Marchand family, having known them for 41 years. He praised them as wonderful, organized, and discreet individuals, highlighting how their careful guidance has led to their son’s exceptional swimming achievements. Lucas admitted he would have loved the chance to coach Léon Marchand. But at the same time, Lucas didn’t hold back his admiration for Marchand’s skills, noting that any coach would love to have someone like him.

Marchand’s dominance, kindness, humility, and discretion make him stand out, which Lucas finds refreshing. He’s seen other athletes who lack these qualities, but Marchand’s excellent upbringing and strong rapport with people set him apart. Although Lucas would have been thrilled to coach Marchand, he has accepted that the rising star is currently thriving under Bob Bowman’s guidance. While Marchand bagged four golds and a bronze at the Paris Olympics, his achievements were ultimately overshadowed by the incredible feats of Paralympic legend Ihar Boki.

Bowman’s coaching decision sparks debate amidst Léon Marchand’s historic success

Even though Marchand delivered an impressive performance at the Olympics, his achievements were ultimately surpassed by Paralympic legend Ihar Boki. At 30, the Belarusian’s remarkable feats further cemented his legendary status in Paralympic swimming, as he secured 5 gold medals whereas the French had only 4 gold medals.

With 28 world championship titles under Ihar Boki’s belt and a stint in the able-bodied world championships in Barcelona in 2013 as part of the 4x100m medley relay team, Boki’s Paralympic gold medal count now stands at an incredible 21 from 25 races since London 2012.

Since the Games began, Léon Marchand has been a crowd favorite with his performances in Paris. Nevertheless, Marchand made history by snagging four gold medals at an Olympics, a feat last achieved by Michael Phelps. He currently holds the record for medals won by male athletes this year.

However, Marchand is coached by Bob Bowman, who famously guided Phelps. Bowman’s decision to coach the French swimmer has sparked debate among American swimming circles, with some critics even labeling him a “traitor” for supporting a non-American athlete. Despite the controversy, Bowman, now head coach at Texas, expressed deep emotion over Marchand’s success, acknowledging the rare qualities that drive such performances. More than a month has passed since Marchand made a mark; his achievements are still making waves, and you can bet his coach is beaming with pride.