Road to Paris 2024: Not Long After Shattering Michael Phelps’ Record, 21-Year Old French Athlete Looks Forward to Taking the Podium Spot

In the world of sports, swimming legend Michael Phelps dominates as the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 28 Olympic medals. The Baltimore Bullet, Phelps also holds the Guinness World Record for the most world records set for swimming by a male, with an impressive tally of 39 achieved between 2001 and 2009. However, as the adage goes, records are meant to be broken, and today, all 29 of his records established between 2001 and 2009 have been surpassed by other swimmers.

The latest to eclipse his final standing record was a 21-year-old fierce Frenchman who has taken the world of swimming by storm. As Paris 2024 approaches, this valued member of the Arizona State Sun Devils swim team aims to make history in his homeland and has shared his goals for gold.

Frenchmen who broke Michael Phelps’ record share his Paris 2024 goals

As reported by 12 News (KPNX-TV, NBC), Léon Marchand recently shared his aspirations for the Paris 2024 Olympics with Lina Washington. The 21-year-old prodigy eagerly anticipates competing on home soil and acknowledges the elite competition that awaits him. Despite finishing sixth in the 400-meter individual medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Marchand remains undeterred. Léon said, “It made me very confident for the future, for the next, because I was only a few seconds from the best in the world.”

He also shared the races he is gearing up for, namely the individual medleys. Marchand teased, saying, “200, 400, and the rest, I don’t know. We’ll see.” As we reflect on these words, let us see how Marchand dropped jaws, surpassing Phelps’ last record, and the words of his coach, who also trained Phelps.

How Léon Marchand not only surpassed the legend but is following his footsteps

At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Léon Marchand broke the last standing record of Michael Phelps of 4:03.84 in the 400m individual medley in a blazing 4 minutes, 2.50 seconds. At the iconic moment, Michael Phelps himself was there to witness this feat and cheered the prodigy with full gusto.

Following in the footsteps of Phelps, Leon Marchand also trains with Bob Bowman, head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils and best known for training The Flying Fish, Phelps himself. As the Olympics approach, Leon Marchand trusts his training, knowing the impressive Olympic feat Bowman achieved with Phelps.

Bowman has shared about the rising star, saying, “It’s been fun to see him grow. As a man, as an athlete, and he’s very serious about swimming obviously, so that was never a problem.” As the countdown to the Paris Olympics ticks closer, fans worldwide eagerly await the spectacle that Marchand promises to deliver on the grandest stage of all. Will Léon Marchand seize the coveted gold medal? Share your thoughts below!

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