Step by step, Léon Marchand confirms his status as a future nugget in swimming. At 19, the swimmer from Toulouse has just broken the French record for the 200 meter medley, this Saturday April 2, during the Grand Prix of San Antonio, in the United States.
With a time of 1 minute, 56 seconds and 95 hundredths, the former Toec licensee achieves the minima to participate in the World Championships in Budapest, from June 18 to July 3, as well as for the European Championships in Rome, in August.
Two competitions for which the Toulousain had already managed to qualify over the weekend but in two other disciplines: the 200m breaststroke and the 400m medley. In this last race, Léon Marchand signed the best world performance of the year. A performance that was almost canceled, due to suspicion of a fault in a turn, but his race was finally validated.
A preparation in the tradition of Michael Phelps
An incredible harvest in one weekend. It’s a good sign for the swimmer from Toulouse, confirming his choices. Léon Marchand left the pink city last summer, after his sixth place at the Tokyo Olympics, to settle in Tempe, Arizona, and train with the legendary Bob Bowman.
He had confided in our microphone at length about his new American life and his relationship with his trainer, former mentor of Michael Phelps. The American swimming star who carefully follows the prowess of the Toulouse swimmer.