Leader of the French swimming team, which will start its world championships on Sunday in Japan, Léon Marchand believes that he is less stressed than before, as he explained to AFP.
Léon Marchand is only 21 years old, but it is already almost an old veteran that he will approach his second world championships, from Sunday in Fukuoka in Japan. Last year, at the World Championships in Budapest, the Toulousain won gold in the 200m medley and 400m medley, as well as silver in the 200m butterfly. This summer, the one who trains in the United States and won five gold medals at the last French championships is expected in even more events (he is aligned in the 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke, 200m and 400m individual medley, but will also do the relays), and could even beat Michael Phelps’ world record in the 400m medley. Léon Marchand could feel enormous pressure when approaching these Worlds, but he shows serenity, as he explained in an interview with theAFP.
“It’s completely different from last year, there’s still the excitement of the competition that remains the same. But the competitions, I approach them differently each year, even each week. I have evolved a lot and it’s a new challenge, a new experience. I have less stress than before. I manage to really enjoy the present moment and live from day to day without worrying too much about what happens tomorrow. So I’m happier. So, I manage to keep my energy until the end. »
Merchant not stressed by the Olympics either
For a year, the swimmer has accumulated titles in the NCAA and in France and this necessarily plays on his management of major events. “Now I have international experience, I also did a lot of competitions in the NCAA or in France with a lot of competition so I’m starting to get used to all that, he acknowledges. And I know that I lose a lot of juice if I stress myself out before the start of the competition. It’s something I’m improving on every day and I’m really trying to work on the pressure I put on myself before competitions, especially in view of the Games next year. »
During the Olympic Games, precisely, he will be one of the headliners of the French delegation, all sports combined. The public will hope for him to win several medals, but this expectation does not bother him more than that: “I think people are starting to get interested in swimming. I let it go and I think the craze will happen and everything will be fine. I really want to prepare myself as much as possible to be ready there but I don’t really have any expectations. I know it will be fun. » Léon Marchand, quiet strength!
