Most of the big stars from the last Olympics will be back at the pool in Paris.
Caeleb Dressel. Katie Ledecky. Ariarne Titmus. Emma McKeon.
But the local favorite might just shine brightest of them all.
France’s Léon Marchand has drawn comparisons to the great Michael Phelps, a link that was only strengthened by Phelps’ longtime coach, Bob Bowman, overseeing the 22-year-old’s rise to prominence.
At last summer’s world championships in Fukuoka, Marchand broke Phelps’ 15-year-old world record in the 400-meter individual medley, to go along with victories in the 200 IM and 200 butterfly - two more of Phelps’ signature events.
“Leon has several things that make him a great,” Bowman said. “He has speed and he has endurance. So he kind of has the whole package that you want, and so far he’s done well under pressure, which is the other piece of that equation. He has it all really.”
Marchand will also have the home-pool advantage in Paris, where the swimming will be contested in a temporary facility set up inside the La Défense Arena, the 30,000-seat home of the rugby club Racing 92.
The place figures to be especially loud every time Marchand steps up on the blocks.
“I get to swim the (400) IM against the world record holder in his home country,” said Carson Foster, the top American hopeful. “That atmosphere is going to be electric.”
Marchand, who swam for Bowman at Arizona State, competed in four events at the Tokyo Games, with a best showing of sixth in the 400 individual medley.
But he emerged as one of the sport’s rising stars at the 2022 world championships in Budapest, and his performance the following year in Fukuoka only raised the stakes heading into his home-country Olympics.
“When I came back from Tokyo, I was like, Damn, this is like a game-changer. Now I can actually beat those guys pretty soon,’” Marchand said. “I know I can train better. I know I can improve this.”
DOPING CONCERNSSwimming has faced many doping scandals over the years, going all the way back to the East Germans’ rise to prominence in the 1970s that was powered by state-sponsored doping.
Now, all eyes are on the Chinese after reports that nearly two dozen of their top swimmers tested positive for banned substances ahead of the Tokyo Olympics but were allowed to compete. Five of those swimmers went on to win medals, including three golds.
It was also revealed that three of those same Chinese swimmers had previously tested positive for a different substance but faced no ramifications.
Ledecky said many swimmers have lost faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency and can’t help but wonder if the competition in Paris will be fair.
Phelps, who won a record 23 gold medals during his career, went before the U.S. Congress to express his concerns.
“It is clear to me that any attempts of reform at WADA have fallen short, and there are still deeply rooted, systemic problems that prove detrimental to the integrity of international sports and athletes’ right to fair competition, time and time again,” he said.
BIG RIVALSThe United States and Australia have long been the world’s most prominent swimming nations, fueling a rivalry that will heat up again in Paris.
While the Americans traditionally have the deepest team, the Aussies have proven to be formidable foes in recent years - especially on the women’s side.
At the 2023 worlds, the team from Down Under captured 13 gold medals in swimming. The U.S. Won seven, though it did lead the overall medals table 38-25.
