This week, Léon Marchand is playing at home. The four-time Olympic swimming champion, 23, competes in the US Pro Swim Series in his daily pool in Austin, where he settled last spring. A haven of tranquility and anonymity more than 8,000 km away – and light years away from the enthusiasm it arouses in France. After the races, the Toulouse native sat down on a sofa in the corridors of the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center to talk about his life as a Texan.
How would you define your Texan adventure?
Aiko Tanaka
Aiko Tanaka is a combat sports journalist and general sports reporter at Archysport. A former competitive judoka who represented Japan at the Asian Games, Aiko brings firsthand athletic experience to her coverage of judo, martial arts, and Olympic sports. Beyond combat sports, Aiko covers breaking sports news, major international events, and the stories that cut across disciplines — from doping scandals to governance issues to the business side of global sport. She is passionate about elevating the profile of underrepresented sports and athletes.
