The news was no longer in doubt. This Friday, Léon Marchand’s trainer Bob Bowman announced that the Frenchman would turn professional soon. “He’s a pro, he’ll be a pro… That’s it,” his coach said from San Antonio where the Pro Swim Series is currently taking place. The French swimmer, who has been walking on water for two years in the American university championships, will therefore no longer be able to compete in these competitions.
In total, the Frenchman won eight individual titles at these championships in three years, breaking four world records: the 200-yard medley, the 400-yard medley, the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard breaststroke. Another change and not the least, the Toulouse resident’s income should be much greater and the five-time world champion will no longer have to respect a whole bunch of rules relating to his status as a foreign student-athlete in the United States.
Bob Bowman with the French team in Paris
This announcement comes a week after a previous announcement from Bob Bowman. Michael Phelps’ former coach had announced that he would leave Arizona State University, which had just won the first NCAA title in its history, to join that of Austin, Texas. He will be followed by Léon Marchand, who is currently in the same American state at the Pro Swim Series where he achieved the best time in the 400m medley series on Friday after winning the 200m butterfly the day before.
Other important news, Bob Bowman confirmed that he would join the staff of the French swimming team during the Olympic Games this summer. “I have the impression that in Paris, Léon will be a little bigger than he was last summer (at the Fukuoka World Championships). So it’s much better for everyone that I train with the French. It’s a good thing because I can coach all the people I’m coaching now,” said the 60-year-old coach.
