Being a swimmer, Leon Marchand’s remarkable achievements truly amazed me at the 2024 Paris Olympics. To master the breaststroke and butterfly and win gold medals in the same events undoubtedly cements his legacy as a great. On top of that, the 200 and 400 IMs featured fluid strokes beyond epic proportions. But, as the water settles down in the pool, what next?

One can say, he can add more events to his repertoire at the LA Olympics in 2028. Maybe a 100m breaststroke and a butterfly, or even a 200m freestyle, the options are limitless. Still 22, there is something else he could chase to finish off his career in style – Michael Phelps’ gold medal tally. Phelps won 23 Olympic gold medals (more than some nations altogether) and Leon Marchand fits the profile well. Yet, his coach, Bob Bowman, wants ‘more’ from his compatriots.

Team USA performed admirably well whenever Phelps took to the pool for relay events. He fetched 10 gold medals out of the 23 in relay events alone. Marchand has one bronze medal from yesterday’s 4×100 men’s medley relay after China took home the gold and the USA won the silver. Therefore, Bowman wants further effort from his French compatriots.

According to the Athletic, Bowman voiced his opinions and praised the 22-year-old’s performance. He mentioned, “Doing what he did at a home Olympics — it’s really extraordinary. It’s almost impossible. The IMs are his best thing.” Yet, he pointed out the challenging problems he encountered in relay events.

He stated, “But I also think there’s a ton of room for improvement in them. The French are not as deep on relays. He’d need to have some support on them.” 

France finished third in the 4×100 men’s medley relay. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Leon Machand, Maxime Grousset, and Florent Manaudou swam for the French team in a fine performance. Safe to say, they have it in themselves to improve their timings. Apart from Manaudou, who is 33, all the other swimmers will reach their prime for the 2028 LA Olympics.

Therefore, he has a positive chance to match Phelps’ medals tally for a single Olympics with 8; although it looks like a distant dream. Yet, all is not impossible!

Bob Bowman wants more from Leon Marchand!

Meanwhile, Bowman often compares Marchand to Phelps and wants his national teammates to raise their game. He continued, “It’s a testament to the quality of his ability to rise to the occasion. He’s like this, and Michael was like this, but it’s only like 1, 2 percent of people who are like this. When the pressure is the very highest, they give their best performances. He did that.”

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 4×100 men’s freestyle event saw Jason Lezak rocket his way past his opponents to keep Phelps’ gold medals hope alive. Still fresh to my memory, the commentators couldn’t fathom the entire experience, jumping over the table when Lezak bought the gold home. Whereas, who can take that mantle for France, though?

With the French swimming program seeing splendid success in Paris, it only takes some time to have a ripple effect. Make no mistake when one echos Leon Marchand as the prince of France right now. But he needs reinforcements to win more Olympic gold medals! Can they do it?