Inside the mind of Leon Marchand, the swimming phenomenon ahead of Olympic Games Paris 2024
During the swimming events at Olympic Games Paris 2024, the majority of fans will have their eyes focused on Léon Marchand. Every breath the Frenchman takes and every length he swims will be closely watched. During each of his races, supporters will be hoping not only to witness one of his victories, but also a world record.
This is the huge challenge facing the 21-year-old who is preparing to carry the hopes of the nation on his shoulders when he takes to the pool at Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre from 27 July to 4 August.
Before then, the college athlete's preparation for a home Games continues at the 2024 NCAA Swimming Championships, which take place from 27 to 30 March in Indianapolis, USA, competing for the Arizona State Sun Devils swim team.
Following his debut Olympic Games, at Tokyo 2020, Marchand's status evolved from a great prospect to an undisputed star of his sport when he beat Michael Phelps's world record in the 400m men's medley at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Marchand has begun to write his own legend and is now one of the athletes not to be missed at the XXXIII Olympiad.
At a home Games, however, Marchand will have to deal with the competitive and media pressure inherent in his new status. To that end, he has focused particularly on his mental strength during this season, knowing how important this aspect will be to his performances.
Olympics.com invites you to dive into the mind of a champion who leaves nothing to chance.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024. Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
“When I was really nervous, I couldn't swim well at all”
Unlike Thierry Henry, coach of the French U-21 football team, Marchand does not practice technical visualisation. This mental projection of positive thoughts is also used by tennis champion Iga Świątek, among others.
"I don't really visualise. I like to keep it a bit of a surprise. In Paris, the swimming events will be spread over nine days. I'm going to try to keep my energy up until all my races are over. But, yes, it would be incredible to win there. In front of the French public, at home," he confided at a press conference organised by his university, Arizona State, to which Olympics.com was invited.
But how is Léon Marchand preparing himself, mentally, for the next whirlwind of emotion into which he will be plunged at Olympic Games Paris 2024?
"The first thing I worked on with my mental coach [Thomas Sammut] was managing my stress and nervousness before competitions because when I was really nervous, I couldn't swim well at all. So I've been working on that, trying to be as relaxed as possible before and during competitions."
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Marchand managed to reach his first Olympic final on his debut appearance. As well as the result (sixth place in the 400m men's medley), the Frenchman gained experience of how to manage the occasion.
"It made me aware of how I had to manage my energy throughout the week. Because at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, as it will be the case in Paris, you have to swim well on the first day, then manage to calm down, get back to sleep and follow that up with new swimming races three or four days later."
To absorb the pressure, Marchand uses breathing techniques, "that I can use to help me sleep or to prepare myself before a race", as well as meditation sessions to "concentrate on myself and nothing else".
As an essential part of recovery, and therefore of sporting performance, sleep is taken very seriously by the Toulouse-born all-rounder. Faced with the hustle and excitement of the competition, the young star uses a breathing technique that consists of "breathing only through my nose for a few minutes. It helps me to stay calm and fall asleep".
In competition, he manages to maintain a high level of concentration by breathing proactively just before diving.
"I close my eyes and think about my swim, my race and a few words that make me feel better. It really helps me manage my energy for the competition."
"I'm trying to lie to myself all the time"
Marchand has already left his mark on the history of swimming despite his young age, holding four university records and a world record, which he took from American legend Phelps, its holder since 2008.
So, how does Marchand feel before setting a record?
"I don't really tell myself anything before, I just want to swim as fast as I can. Sometimes I don't feel well, but I still manage well in the water. So I'm trying to lie to myself all the time: 'Yes, I'm in good shape, I can do it'."
For his latest university record, the French swimmer clocked a superb time of 4:06.18 over 500 yards freestyle. A long distance that he has only swum a few times since joining the university circuit just after Tokyo 2020.
"It was quite nice because Zalan Sarkany was there too. He's a really good swimmer on the (Arizona State) team and we raced together at the start and it was fun. I was just trying to focus on my pace and be as fast as I could."
At Paris 2024, Marchand will be one of the most anticipated athletes, but will he be able to enjoy himself despite the challenges ahead?
While he is unsurprisingly clear about what he likes to do – "swim fast and above all swim with the best competitors in the world" – Marchand understands that his new status as a star of French sport also means showing off to the media and fans.
An extra effort for this naturally reserved man, Marchand is nevertheless beginning to open up to others and to take in the experience.
I'm starting to enjoy it all, meeting people, signing autographs, doing things like that.
"The problem is that it takes up a lot of my energy, too. It's not easy to manage it during the week of the Games. But obviously, I'm less shy than before because I've already been in the spotlight a bit more, so (for the Olympic Games in Paris) it will be different."