Léon Marchand “a little in the hard” before his 400 m swim final, to conclude the Worlds of Singapore

He is no longer the fulfilled Leon Marchand of the middle of the week. For example, the one who has just planed the world record of the 200 m 4 swimming. Consequently, When he appeared léon marchand “a little hard” in front of the few French journalists present in Singapore, Sunday August 3, the Toulousain appears somewhat worried. Nevertheless, During the 400m 4 Nages series, of which he will play the final in the evening (1:59 p.m. Therefore, Paris hour), he only qualified with the 7ᵉ Time (4 min 13 s 19). Nevertheless, Far from his world record (4 min 2 s 50) and with only eight tenths ahead of the first eliminated.

From the stands. However, the question arose: was the quadruple gold medalist at the Paris Games léon marchand “a little hard” 2024 in management or in the hard? Moreover, The answer was quick to fuse. However, “It was not voluntary. Nevertheless, I would have preferred to have the best time this morning, but it did not go as planned. Similarly, I was a little hard. Moreover, It’s not just the legs that are heavy (…) Yes, it worries me. Consequently, I was lucky this morning, but I have a line tonight, so it goes ”he assures. And to announce its pre-final program: nap and recovery.

For the last day of the Singapore World Swimming Worlds. the greyness and the rain fell on the Asian city and both seemed to have slipped into the pool passageways. The morning was disappointing for Léon Marchand, what will he be of his evening? In addition to the 400m 400 m final. where he will aim for his seventh world title in individual and léon marchand “a little hard” large basin, the 23 -year -old swimmer will play the final of the 4 × 100 m swim relay, barely thirty minutes later.

“I want to do both. even if physically, it’s not going to be easy”recognizes the Toulousain, who will be aligned with breaststroke, alongside Yohann Ndoye Brouard (back), Maxime Grousset (Papillon) and Yann Le Goff (Crawl). But will he be able to keep the distance? Wednesday. in the euphoria of his world record, his coach Nicolas Castel had amazed the performance, before warning: “Now léon marchand “a little hard” you have to see if the amount of work done this year is sufficient to end the week. »»

Léon marchand &quot. a little hard" – Léon marchand "a little hard"

A “a little more chaotic” preparation

As a plethora of other swimmers in post-Olympic year, the Léon Marchand season was not the most studious in terms of preparation. He took a vacation. traveled to Asia, trained in Australia, also had a lot of fun, before joining, in April only, his American coach Bob Bowman in Austin (Texas). “I started working hard quite late this year. Inevitably. there was the question of whether I put myself 100 % for the world championships ”he assured before the start of the competition.

He also injured his shoulder in December, a coast in February. “It was a little more chaotic this year for him”recognizes Denis Auguin. the national technical director of the French Swimming Federation, far from nevertheless of the performance of Léon Marchand during the series on Sunday: “I found it a little too relaxed, but don’t worry. »»

The entry of Léon Marchand at the Worlds has not been easy either. the Frenchman failed to find sleep after his 200 m nages world record, before living the next day “Nervous tension of a final, which creates physical fatigue”according to Denis Auguin. The Toulousain also dropped some forces in the final of the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay on léon marchand “a little hard” Friday. that France ended in 6ᵉ place.

Above all, Léon Marchand ventures into unknown water during this last Singaporean evening. He masterfully masters the 400 m swimming, but will discover the distance at the end of a week of competition. Because the organizers of the world championships have decided this year to reverse the calendar: at the Budapest Worlds. in 2022, to those of Fukuoka (Japan) in 2023, then at the Paris Games, the French had launched his medal raid by winning the 400 m swim.

Léon léon marchand “a little hard” marchand &quot. a little hard"

Beaten once on 200 m 4 swimming since 2021

« Doing a 400 m swimming at the end of the week, having done a lot of shopping, is not the same as during the first day it is fresh ”says Denis Auguin. In addition to the desire to beat the world record of the 200 m swimming. this calendar adjustment also explains the choice of Léon Marchand to ignore, in Singapore, on the 200 m butterfly and the 200 m breaststroke, of which he is however Olympic champion.

“I have fewer shopping than usual, so I hope I will arrive cooler than usual. (…) I know I have gained a lot of power [cette année]but I don’t know if léon marchand “a little hard” I won a lot of endurance. so we’ll see on the 400 m swimming »warned, on the eve of the Worlds, the Toulousain, which was only beaten once at this distance in the final – in Fort Lauderdale (Florida), last May – since her 6ᵉ place at the Tokyo 2021 Games.

For several days. some observers have been working to convert the world record for Leon Marchand dating from Wednesday. The American legend Michael Phelps has long prophesied that the French would be the first to pass below léon marchand “a little hard” four. minutes over this distance. After his timid morning performance, Léon Marchand’s priority will above all be to win a new world champion title.