Hello the American dream. Léon Marchand, 18, will join Arizona State University in the United States in the fall of 2021. The Toulousain, a great hope of French swimming, will work with Bob Bowman, the mentor of legend Michael Phelps. Until then, the resident of the TOEC Dolphins, a medley specialist, will have the Tokyo Olympics in his sights.
How was Arizona State chosen?
LEON MARCHAND. For a good year, I have known that I want to go to the United States. I had been researching for six months and had quite a few contacts. Universities wanted me and it’s quite rewarding. One of the main criteria was to have a 100% scholarship for my four-year course, so that my parents didn’t have to pay anything. Then, we had to choose and it was the hardest part. I had a great feeling with Bowman, we made a lot of Zoom and Skype calls and it went well. The same with the other coaches at the university. I gave my verbal signature a short week ago.
How impressive is it to be contacted by Phelps’ coach?
It’s been a month and a half, two months ago. When I got the first email saying he was interested in me, I thought it was amazing, like a dream. Without being an alien, he is one of the best coaches in the world! I was a little stressed at the beginning of our discussions but it quickly became very relaxed. He’s great and he loves French.
He also directed Yannick Agnel in 2013 …
I called Yannick before making my choice. He told me that humanly he was one of the best, that he knew how to distance myself and advised me to go in that direction. He also explained to me why it didn’t work for him (Editor’s note: Agnel had only made a small season, at the time in Baltimore, after having slammed the door of Nice). He would have preferred to go earlier, like me, to university studies. The contexts are different.
What are you going to study alongside swimming?
I just graduated from the S bac. I don’t know yet, but it’s so varied. I have to make my choice of subjects in the next three or four months.
What draws you to the American dream?
Studying and playing high-level sport at the same time is complicated in France. Then there’s the NCAA (Editor’s note: university championships), that looks amazing. There, everything is geared towards performance. American culture in swimming is heavy. And then, I want to discover something else, to speak English fluently. In short, there are a lot of reasons. The point is not to leave to escape the pressure (Editor’s note: with a view to Paris 2024) but it can help.
We can already feel you excited….
Definitely! But that is precisely the reason why I announced my departure so early. That way, it’s done and I can concentrate on the deadlines as well as possible. There are the French Championships at the end of December and it will come quickly.
See your father’s photo (former swimmer) every day when you arrive at your Toulouse swimming pool won’t you miss it?
(Laughs) No, I think it will be fine …
