Léon Marchand returns to the competition after absence, facing fresh hurdles
Crankin' it Up Again: Léon Marchand's Back in the Pool
After a six-month break, Léon Marchand, the French swimming sensation, is diving back into competition. He'll be swimming in the Tyr Pro Series in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 1st. But there's a twist - Léon will represent his new team, the Texas Longhorns, for the very first time, and he'll be tackling events he's yet to master: the 400m and 200m freestyle.
"You know what? I freakin' love a challenge," Léon told various media outlets during an April 14th video call. "I've never really swum freestyle before, but hey, gotta step out of my comfort zone if I want to progress, right?"
The Road to LA 2028
Léon's shift into freestyle is all about preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. By adding these new events to his repertoire, he plans to structure his training programs leading up to the Games. Apart from three of the events that earned him an Olympic gold – the 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, and 400m individual medley – Léon will also take on the 400m freestyle and the 200m freestyle in Fort Lauderdale.
Training Stateside
Following stints training abroad, Léon has returned to the United States and is now part of the Texas Pro Group at the University of Texas under coach Bob Bowman. With this move, he's showing his commitment to adapt, grow and conquer the swimming world.
Fun Facts & Figures
- World Record Holder: Léon is the current long course 400m individual medley world record holder.
- Olympic Gold Rush: In the 2024 Summer Olympics, Léon slammed home four individual gold medals, setting Olympic records in all of them.
- NCAA Titles: As part of Arizona State University, Léon won multiple titles in breaststroke and medley events.
- World Championships: Léon has nabbed multiple medals in the World Aquatics Championships, including gold in the 400m individual medley and silver in the 200m butterfly in 2022.
" In preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Léon Marchand, the current long course 400m individual medley world record holder, has decided to take on the 400m and 200m freestyle events for the first time, as part of his new team, the Texas Longhorns. By adding these new events to his repertoire, Léon aims to structure his training programs leading up to the Games, and he will also compete in the Tyr Pro Series in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 1st, representing the Texas Longhorns.* Léon's move to the Texas Pro Group at the University of Texas under coach Bob Bowman is a testament to his commitment to adapt, grow, and conquer the swimming world, following his Olympic gold rush in the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he set Olympic records in all four individual gold medals he won."
