Léon Marchand is a four-time Olympic champion: he won four gold medals and a bronze at the Paris 2024 Games. He holds three individual world records (400 m medley in 2023 and 200 m medley in 2025 in long course, 200 m medley in 2024 in short course) and has seven individual world titles in long course. In August 2026 he became European champion in the 200 m butterfly and the 400 m freestyle in Saint-Denis. He has named the short-course World Championships in Beijing (December 1 to 6, 2026) as a goal; Olympic swimming in Los Angeles runs from July 22 to 30, 2028.
At a glance
- Paris 2024 Games: 4 gold medals (400 m medley, 200 m butterfly, 200 m breaststroke, 200 m medley), each with an Olympic record, and a bronze in the 4x100 m medley relay.
- World records: 3 individual records, published by World Aquatics (400 m medley in 4:02.50, 200 m medley in 1:52.69, short-course 200 m medley in 1:48.88).
- Long-course World Championships: 7 individual titles (2 in 2022, 3 in 2023, 2 in 2025).
- 2026 European Championships (Saint-Denis): gold in the 200 m butterfly and the 400 m freestyle, silver in the 4x200 m freestyle relay, bronze in the 4x100 m medley relay.
- Coach: Bob Bowman, in Austin (Texas). Trained in Toulouse, at the Dauphins du TOEC, with Nicolas Castel.
- Next dates: short-course Worlds in Beijing (December 1 to 6, 2026), Budapest Worlds (swimming July 10 to 18, 2027), Los Angeles Games (July 22 to 30, 2028).
Léon Marchand in 10 dates
Paris 2024 Olympics: four golds and a bronze
| Date | Event | Result | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 28, 2024 | 400 m medley | Gold | 4:02.95 (Olympic record) |
| July 31, 2024 | 200 m butterfly | Gold | 1:51.21 (Olympic record) |
| July 31, 2024 | 200 m breaststroke | Gold | 2:05.85 (Olympic record) |
| August 2, 2024 | 200 m medley | Gold | 1:54.06 (Olympic record) |
| August 4, 2024 | 4x100 m medley relay | Bronze | 3:28.38, with Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Maxime Grousset and Florent Manaudou |
On July 31, Marchand won two individual finals in the same evening, a little under two hours apart. In the 200 m butterfly he beat Hungary’s Kristóf Milák (1:51.75). In the 200 m breaststroke he beat Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook (2:06.79). His 400 m medley time erased Michael Phelps’s Olympic record (4:03.84, 2008). In the 200 m medley he finished six hundredths off the world record at the time. Total: five medals from five finals.
World Championships: seven individual titles in long course
| Date | Edition | Event | Result | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 18, 2022 | Budapest | 400 m medley | Gold | 4:04.28 |
| June 21, 2022 | Budapest | 200 m butterfly | Silver | 1:53.37 (French record) |
| June 22, 2022 | Budapest | 200 m medley | Gold | 1:55.22 |
| July 23, 2023 | Fukuoka | 400 m medley | Gold | 4:02.50 (world record) |
| July 26, 2023 | Fukuoka | 200 m butterfly | Gold | 1:52.43 (French record) |
| July 27, 2023 | Fukuoka | 200 m medley | Gold | 1:54.82 |
| July 30, 2025 | Singapore | 200 m medley, semifinal | World record | 1:52.69 |
| July 31, 2025 | Singapore | 200 m medley | Gold | 1:53.68 |
| August 3, 2025 | Singapore | 400 m medley | Gold | 4:04.73 |
| August 3, 2025 | Singapore | 4x100 m medley relay | Silver | 3:27.96 (French record) |
These results add up to seven individual titles: three in the 400 m medley, three in the 200 m medley and one in the 200 m butterfly. In Singapore, Marchand cut his individual programme to the two medley events. World Aquatics named him swimmer of the year for 2025, after 2024.
He did not swim the short-course World Championships in Budapest (December 10 to 15, 2024). He announced his withdrawal on November 30, 2024, citing the fatigue of a very busy year.
Léon Marchand’s three world records
| Event | Time | Date and place | Previous record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 m medley (long course) | 4:02.50 | July 23, 2023, Fukuoka World Championships | Michael Phelps, 4:03.84 (2008) |
| 200 m medley (long course) | 1:52.69 | July 30, 2025, Singapore World Championships (semifinal) | Ryan Lochte, 1:54.00 (2011) |
| 200 m medley (short course) | 1:48.88 | November 1, 2024, Singapore World Cup | Ryan Lochte, 1:49.63 (December 2012) |
The long-course 200 m medley record was lowered by 1.31 seconds. The four Olympic records from Paris 2024 are not world records.
Toulouse, Arizona State, Texas: clubs and coaches
Léon Marchand trained in Toulouse, at the Dauphins du TOEC, with Nicolas Castel as his coach. In summer 2021 he joined Arizona State University, where Bob Bowman was the men’s head coach. Between 2022 and 2024 he won eight individual titles at the US collegiate championship (NCAA), according to ASU. Three came in March 2024 in Indianapolis (500-yard freestyle, 400-yard medley, 200-yard breaststroke), with two NCAA records. ASU won its first team national title that same weekend.
Bowman then left ASU for the University of Texas. Marchand turned professional and followed him to Austin. He no longer swims the college season: his American races in 2025 and 2026 belong to the professional circuit. Flashscore reported in December 2025 that he trains under Bob Bowman.
2025-2026 season: from Singapore to the Saint-Denis Euros
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| December 6, 2025 | US Open, Austin | 200 m butterfly: gold in 1:52.57 |
| June 27, 2026 | French Championships, Saint-Étienne | 400 m medley: gold in 4:04.56, best world performance of the year at that date and fifth-fastest time in history |
| August 10, 2026 | European Championships, Saint-Denis | 4x200 m freestyle relay: silver and French record. Marchand led off in 1:43.76 |
| August 15, 2026 | European Championships, Saint-Denis | 200 m butterfly: gold in 1:51.72, best world performance of the year, first individual European title |
| August 16, 2026 | European Championships, Saint-Denis | 400 m freestyle: gold in 3:43.14 (French record). 4x100 m medley relay: bronze in 3:29.03 |
At the European Championships (August 10 to 16, 2026), Marchand took four medals: two individual titles, a silver and a bronze in relays. He had never swum the 400 m freestyle at a major championship before. There are no long-course World Championships in 2026: after Singapore 2025, the next edition is in Budapest in 2027.
What comes next: Beijing, Budapest, Los Angeles
| Date | Competition | Place |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 to 6, 2026 | Short-course World Championships | Beijing (goal announced by Marchand on August 16, 2026) |
| July 10 to 18, 2027 | Long-course World Championships (swimming) | Budapest |
| July 22 to 30, 2028 | Olympic Games (swimming) | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (Los Angeles) |
Marchand said the Beijing Worlds were a goal for him this year, without giving his programme or confirming an entry. According to Flashscore, he is also working on the 400 m freestyle with Los Angeles 2028 in mind.
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Frequently asked questions
How many Olympic medals does Léon Marchand have?
Five, all at the Paris 2024 Games: four gold medals (400 m medley, 200 m butterfly, 200 m breaststroke, 200 m medley) and a bronze in the 4x100 m medley relay.
Which world records does Léon Marchand hold?
Three individual records: the long-course 400 m medley (4:02.50, July 23, 2023), the long-course 200 m medley (1:52.69, July 30, 2025) and the short-course 200 m medley (1:48.88, November 1, 2024).
When did Léon Marchand break Michael Phelps’s record?
On July 23, 2023, at the Fukuoka World Championships, in 4:02.50 in the 400 m medley. Phelps’s record of 4:03.84 dated from the 2008 Beijing Games.
How many world titles does Léon Marchand have?
Seven individual long-course titles: two in 2022 (400 m and 200 m medley), three in 2023 (400 m medley, 200 m butterfly, 200 m medley) and two in 2025 (200 m and 400 m medley).
Who coaches Léon Marchand?
Bob Bowman, whom he followed from Arizona State to the University of Texas in Austin. He trained in Toulouse, at the Dauphins du TOEC, with Nicolas Castel.
What has Léon Marchand done in 2026?
He was French champion in the 400 m medley on June 27 (4:04.56). At the Saint-Denis European Championships he won the 200 m butterfly and the 400 m freestyle, then took silver in the 4x200 m freestyle relay and bronze in the 4x100 m medley relay.
What is Léon Marchand’s next major event?
He has said the short-course World Championships in Beijing, December 1 to 6, 2026, are a goal. Swimming at the Los Angeles Games runs from July 22 to 30, 2028.
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Sources
- World Aquatics, record du monde du 200 m 4 nages (Singapour, 30 juillet 2025)
- World Aquatics, record du monde du 400 m 4 nages (Fukuoka, 23 juillet 2023)
- World Aquatics, Coupe du monde de Singapour 2024 (record du monde du 200 m 4 nages en petit bassin)
- World Aquatics, nageurs de l’année 2025
- World Aquatics, Bob Bowman, Texas et Léon Marchand
- World Aquatics, calendrier de la natation aux Jeux de Los Angeles 2028
- World Aquatics, Mondiaux en petit bassin Pékin 2026 (dates)
- World Aquatics, programme des Mondiaux de Budapest 2027
- Orange Sports, Paris 2024 : Marchand, roi des Jeux
- Al Jazeera, le 400 m 4 nages des Jeux de Paris (28 juillet 2024)
- L’Avenir, le doublé du 31 juillet 2024 (200 m papillon et 200 m brasse)
- NBC News, 200 m 4 nages de Paris 2024
- Guinness World Records, 400 m 4 nages grand bassin (hommes)
- ASU News, titre NCAA 2024 d’Arizona State
- Fédération française de natation, Léon Marchand superstar
- ICI (France Bleu), les Dauphins du TOEC, club formateur de Léon Marchand
- eNCA (AFP), forfait de Marchand aux Mondiaux en petit bassin 2024
- beIN SPORTS, champion de France du 400 m 4 nages (27 juin 2026)
- info.fr, 4 min 04 s 56 aux Championnats de France 2026
- franceinfo, premier titre européen sur 200 m papillon (15 août 2026)
- Équipe de France, Championnats d’Europe 2026 : Marchand conclut en or
- Dicodusport, relais 4 x 200 m nage libre aux Championnats d’Europe 2026
- Eurosport, Marchand annonce les Mondiaux en petit bassin de Pékin
- MVZ Sports, « C’est un objectif pour moi » : les Mondiaux en petit bassin
- Flashscore, US Open d’Austin (décembre 2025)
- beIN SPORTS, le bronze du relais 4x100 m 4 nages aux Jeux de Paris 2024
- AFP via Le Petit Journal, premier titre mondial de Marchand au 400 m 4 nages (18 juin 2022)
- Dicodusport, Mondiaux 2022 : Marchand champion du monde du 200 m 4 nages
- Dicodusport, Mondiaux 2022 : Marchand vice-champion du monde du 200 m papillon
- Sun Devil Athletics, 200 m papillon des Mondiaux de Fukuoka (26 juillet 2023)
- The Namibian (agences), 200 m 4 nages des Mondiaux de Fukuoka (27 juillet 2023)
- Dicodusport, relais 4x100 m 4 nages français vice-champion du monde 2025
- Wikipédia, Mondiaux 2022, 400 m 4 nages hommes
- Wikipédia, Mondiaux 2025, 400 m 4 nages hommes
- Wikipédia, Mondiaux 2025, 200 m 4 nages hommes
- Wikipédia, Mondiaux 2025, relais 4x100 m 4 nages hommes
- Wikipédia, Mondiaux 2027 de Budapest
- Wikipédia, 2026 European Aquatics Championships
- Wikipédia, liste des records du monde de natation
- Wikipédia, Léon Marchand
Updated October 22, 2026. Last competition included: European Championships in Saint-Denis, August 10 to 16, 2026.
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