With five titles in five races, Léon Marchand was (obviously) the strong man of the French swimming championships which end this Friday in Rennes. Highly anticipated, the new star of the tricolor basins had to manage the attention of the public and the media, like a taste of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Not always easy, he admits, even if he finally won five titles in five races.
What is your assessment of these French championships in terms of your performance?
I think I had two very good days with the 200 breaststroke and the 200 front crawl where I set my best times. It was super nice. And after the rest, I try to qualify, I win my races, I make five titles this week. In truth, I’m satisfied with the week: after the 400m medley, I’m far from my times, so there’s a bit of disappointment on that side, but at the same time I’m satisfied to be qualified for the championships. in the world and to have won five titles.
How did you manage the expectation of the public and the media?
It’s the first time I’ve competed in France since I changed status. So it wasn’t easy, it’s always good to prepare for all that, but to live it, it’s still quite different. There were a lot of eyes on me. It’s the first time I’ve really seen him in competition like that, so it wasn’t easy to manage. But at the same time I take advantage of it, it’s nice, people are happy to see me and I’m happy to see him too.
What was the most difficult to manage?
What’s hard is that I’m never alone. There is always someone watching me, taking my picture, filming me. I’m not really used to that but I have to get used to it because at the Paris Games, it will be worse. I try to live with it.
Laure Manaudou is present in Rennes. Do you plan to talk about this with her?
Yes it is clear, I have already spoken with his brother, he experienced a bit the same thing. Above all, you have to stay open, take advantage of the people around you and not worry about it. I will continue the mental preparation for the Paris Games, it’s really part of my training now. I train five hours a day in the water and I really need to train my head too. But that’s what I do every day, I train and progress pretty quickly so I think it’s going to do it.
What impact does this have on your performance?
It’s mostly times when we’re not really focused on performance, but we also have to see it as an exchange and a sharing. When I arrive in the evening and there are people waiting for me when I’ve been at the pool for an hour and a half (to recuperate), it’s especially pleasant. So I try to share all that, to share the emotions that sport provides, so it’s rather positive.
Do you think you have things to correct at this level?
I learn a little every day! I really didn’t know how people would expect me. I try to adapt according to the days, my mood too, how I get up in the morning. I’m a human, so it’s a bit like everyone else, I have different emotions, there are times when I want to, times when I don’t want to and that’s especially what I have to listen.