The atmosphere at the París La Défense Arena was as thrilling as ever. Amidst thundering cheers of “Allez Léon”, the 22-year-old stunned the swimming community. There’s nothing better than clinching an Olympic gold on your home turf, and Léon Marchand did just that a whopping 4 times. He couldn’t achieve the same results in his debut 3 years ago. In fact, the closest he got to the podium was a sixth-place finish in the 400m IM. 

Even though his popularity went to an all-time high after his stellar stint in Paris, the Olympian reveals that the sport gave him much more than accolades. He opens up about his second Summer Games berth for the first time in a casual sit-down interview with Clique TV. Naturally, the conversation deviated towards the 22-year-old’s relationship with the sport. But he disclosed how swimming has played a pivotal role in his life. 

“As an introvert, it wasn’t easy because we say a lot of faults in general about shy people and introverts, not necessarily good when we have enormous qualities.” Léon Marchand confessed how he wasn’t as easygoing as he seems now. However, that soon changed. “For me, it came through my sport because, in fact, I was less smiling when I arrived at training, and I tried to swim, but I had more fun,” he stated. 

But did you know the wunderkind quit the sport he loved because the water was too cold for him when he was 7? Oddly enough, the swimmer was too skinny and didn’t think he would fare well in the pool. But clearly he doesn’t feel that way anymore. “It’s not just with sport, but in any case, sport has helped me and allowed me to be able to express myself. Now, I love myself more and more, too, but I worked a lot on this,” the swimmer stated. 

Mental health is not a stigma anymore, and Léon Marchand understands that many are going through what he has been through. “I think that a lot of young people, in my opinion, identify a little with me.“ His extraordinary stint in Paris helped put things into perspective. The swimmer exclaimed, “I wanted to send this message because I’m shy, I’m reserved, but I can—I’m an ordinary guy, but I can do great things.” However, the swimmer still has moments when he goes back into his shell. 

Léon Marchand still has difficulty getting used to one particular thing

It’s not every day that one of your own becomes the fourth swimmer to win four individual gold medals at the same Games in Olympic history, right? However, there was a point where the 22-year-old didn’t even dream of contesting. “At that time, I was not really good at swimming. I was not even like thinking (of making) national finals and stuff.” When he heard that Paris would be the 2024 host, he nonchalantly thought of how cool it would be to contest. 

But before Léon Marchand could even stun the crowds in the Olympic pool, his accolades had preceded him. Even though swimming helped him express himself more, he still was an introvert at heart. So imagine his horror when the swimmer noticed a massive poster of himself on the Montparnasse Tower. “That was something pretty special for me,” he confessed. However, he admitted that he doesn’t like putting himself out there, which got harder as the games went by. 

“I need to organize myself a little more. I can’t do my shopping alone. I wear a cap and glasses. I try to hide a little.” Casually breaking 4 Olympic records is no big deal, but the swimmer couldn’t bear the thought of being recognized. But he doesn’t hold back from expressing gratitude whenever a fan stops him on the streets. “I take it to my heart,” he confessed.

But the circumstances of his historic stint in the City of Lights are not lost on Léon Marchand. He understands that things won’t be the same. He reiterated, “France has changed, and I hope it will last. Sport is something quite special.” However, the sport helped the Olympian out of his shell and become the best version of himself. Did you know this little fact about France’s Poster Boy?