Editor’s Choice this Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. is to give the floor to Michel Coloma, general manager of the Dauphins du Toec, the club of Léon Marchand. Barely returned from the World Championships in Budapest where he won two gold medals in the 200 and 400 medleys, and a silver medal in the 200 butterfly, the Toulousain is going to have a great day. The mayor of Toulouse will give him the city medal this Wednesday noon, before a big press conference and a party in the evening with his training companions. Two appointments or it will be a question of his exploits but also of the projects of his club.
Hello Michael Coloma! Léon Marchand welcomed like a king in Toulouse. What does it do to you?
It already makes us very happy for him and it makes us very happy for the club too and for the city, of course.
And it changes a bit from football and rugby?
Exactly, even if we like them both.
And tonight at the Stadium, what will the party you have prepared for her look like?
This evening, there will be some of the licensees of the Dauphins du Toec since I remind you that we have 1,800 licensees and that it would take a lot of space to accommodate them all. And then there will be his club mates, the swimmers who swim with him day by day, his parents, his family, his friends who will welcome him and celebrate his titles with him.
So it’s a big meal, right?
It is a form of meal, a form of celebration. There will be music too, what.
And the children? They may have some autographs. How do you organize this?
So the children, before Leon enters the Stadium, they will have the opportunity for three quarters of an hour to see Leo on the forecourt of the Stadium and to pick up autographs and other photos from him.
We know that it is a modest Léon Marchand. Isn’t this whole party too much for him? How does he live it?
I think he lives it with a lot of hindsight, a lot of calm, because once again he is someone who is modest and serene, so he will live it as he has done from the start, quietly.
You saw him, I imagine, at the beginning of the week, when he landed in Toulouse, you found him changed?
But we found him radiant.
What were his words? What did you say?
That he was happy and proud of his medals. Of course.
Let’s talk about his incredible career at the Worlds, two gold medals in the 200 and 400 meter medley, broken French record, vice world champion in the 200 meter butterfly. Did you imagine this tidal wave at the Worlds, Michel Coloma?
We hoped so because we had seen his performances a few days before in the United States, and then his progress throughout the year, then the past years too. And then there, it was the apotheosis, indeed. And as he is a warrior under his calm air, we could hope that he manages to win these two titles there.
What is so special about the method of her new American trainer, Bob Bowman? I remind you that he is the mentor of Michael Phelps.
I think that’s a total. Bob Bowman also works in collaboration with Nicolas Castel here in Toulouse. And then they regularly discuss the work that Léon does. And in the United States, he still has training conditions which are, in quotes, easier because there is everything there. So he has fewer trips to make and the days of work and training are still easier to manage than when you’re in Toulouse and you have to run from right to left. Although already in Toulouse, he still has good training conditions.
We saw on the images of Budapest, at one point, Bob Bowman telling Léon Marchand that he had spoken too much to the media between two races. Is that too, is that an extreme requirement?
I think it’s to concentrate on his races. And what he specifically asked her. Now, in the days to come, he will be a little freer to be able to speak to the press. But there, on the spot, he had to concentrate properly to achieve what he wanted.
And there, you have been bombarded with interview requests for the past few days?
We can read it for ten days. We are attacked, yes, but it is the ransom of glory and it is a great glory for him. So it’s very good.
Well, we are still a little disappointed. Leon announced on Sunday evening that he would not take part in the European championships in Rome in August. Isn’t it a shame to cut off such an incredible momentum? How do you interpret it?
No, I think he did what he had to do once again quite intelligently since he did all the American, American university championships. He went on to the world championship and there he returned to France. He’s going to train for a while, take a little rest because he’s been running for a while.
He’s knackered?
Yes since the Beijing Games last year. So, two or three weeks of rest with his family, and then go back to the United States on a new cycle of work. I think it was very necessary that it was that time. Going back to a course, going back to a competition that lasts a week, plus the previous course, was still a lot for him.
So he’s training for a few more weeks in Toulouse. Does that mean that if we go swimming in Nakache, in Castex, we can swim next to Léon Marchand?
You can swim next to Léon Marchand early in the morning. Indeed.
Alright, what time then?
(Smile) From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., he is in the pool.
Having a double world champion in your Dauphins du Toec club, will that change a lot of things or not?
We can think that it will change the view from the outside, although we are a fairly positive view of the Toulouse public. But there will undoubtedly be a stronger demand for swimming schools and for big competitions. But it’s also a good thing to have that spotlight there. It’s a bit like what we experienced at the time when Solenne Figuès was world champion in 2005. And then Leon’s dad too, vice world champion in 98. It’s a story that lasts.
Do you receive phone calls? Are there parents who want to register their children since they saw Léon Marchand’s performances or not?
I saw the secretaries a little overwhelmed at times. Yes. But again, that’s fine, that’s a good thing.
Do you hope to be crowned the best club in France once again?
So it’s been the 13th year that we’ve been the best club in France. So it would be good if we did a 14ᵉ year.
Do you also hope to improve your infrastructure? Are there any new things to expect at the Dauphin du Toec?
There may be new things to expect at the Dauphins du Toec. And I think the president will announce that on Capitol Hill at 12:30. And then, tonight too.
New developments that need to be imagined?
Beautiful new developments that you have to imagine.
A final word on Paris 2024. The Olympics in two years. How many medals in your opinion for Léon Marchand?
If there is, that would be great. If there are two, even better. There you go, I think we should also point out one thing, which is that if, at Paris 2024, Léon and other swimmers from the club are qualified, it will be the 10th consecutive year that Toulouse has sent swimmers to the France team. Olympic. Which would be a record again.
So you are a director?..
Filled. Happy !