Leon Marchand's historic Olympic show is shaking Paris
France's swimming star Leon Marchand concludes his Olympic Games with a historic triumph. The 22-year-old wins the 200m Individual Medley final, becoming the first Frenchman to win four gold medals at the same Olympic Games, in front of 17,000 enthusiastic spectators.
The arena erupted, Leon Marchand raised four fingers in triumph: The French swimming star is unstoppable at the Olympic Games. Cheered on by over 10,000 enthusiastic fans at the La Défense Arena, the 22-year-old won his fourth gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Marchand dominated the 200m Individual Medley, finishing ahead of Britain's Duncan Scott and China's Wang Shun. His time of 1:54.06 was just six hundredths of a second off the world record. French President Emmanuel Macron watched the race from the stands. The historic victory was celebrated throughout Paris and beyond.
Marchand's status in his home country is evident not only in the high-profile attendance and the numerous fans singing his praises or bringing posters with his face, but also in the numerous French newspapers that featured him on their front pages. From "Le Monde" to "Le Figaro" and "Libération", Marchand was the big story.
The son of former elite swimmers, Marchand had already won gold in the 400m Individual Medley, 200m Butterfly, and 200m Breaststroke at these Games. He is the first athlete to become an Olympic champion in both breaststroke and butterfly. One more triumph, and Marchand will tie with biathlete Martin Fourcade as the most decorated Olympian in French history.
"It's incredible, it was truly magical," Marchand said. "The whole stadium was behind me, and I used that energy." Just before his gold medal race, a compatriot had fired up the crowd. Florent Manaudou's bronze medal in the 50m Freestyle was celebrated like an Olympic victory. Gold on the shortest Olympic distance went to Australia's Cameron McEvoy, ahead of Britain's Benjamin Proud.
Marchand's historic achievement at the Olympic Games is being widely praised in French media. His four gold medals at the Paris Olympics have secured his place as a icon in The Olympic Games history.
The Olympic Games medal count now puts France in a strong position, with Marchand contributing significantly to the nation's tally.
