2023-06-11 06:00:00
Léon Marchand is embarking on his first major meeting of the season with the French Swimming Championships in Rennes.
With the tricolor gratin, from Florent Manaudou to Maxime Grousset via Marie Wattel or Charlotte Bonnet, they are on a mission to win their selection for the Fukuoka World Championships (Japan) in five weeks (July 23-30).
The young 21-year-old swimmer will logically be the most scrutinized star: exiled in Arizona, the Toulousain, double world champion in Budapest last year (over 200 and 400 m medley) continued his progress this season remaining undefeated during the university season and breaking some emblematic records.
Marchand wants to do better in Japan than in Hungary
Enough to arouse the excitement of the French public who have not seen him swim at home since the selections for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. But this pressure does not yet seem to reach the young Toulousain. “I don’t have too many expectations, I just try to enjoy day by day,” he said Thursday during a press conference at the TOEC of Toulouse, the club of his debut.
“The French championships, for me, it’s a must, but it’s not necessarily my final goal for the year,” he explained. “This year, I’m focusing more on the world championships in July. There are times to do and you still have to be in good shape to achieve them. »
His objective in Japan: “to do better” than in Hungary last year. “Last year I didn’t have too much experience at international level at the senior level, I managed to win two races, it was great, but I think I can do better. »
Reunion with the French public
But while waiting to shine on the world stage, it is in Brittany that it will be necessary to shine. “One year before the Paris Olympics, these French championships serve as a great rehearsal by allowing swimmers to put themselves under the same selection conditions as next year”, explained the technical director of French swimming Julien. Idle.
>> READ ALSO: Led by Marchand, the Blues are in a positive spiral
In Rennes, Marchand will set off this Sunday for the 200m breaststroke. He will continue his week with the 200 and 400 m medley, the 100 and 200 m butterfly, as well as the 200 m freestyle and is delighted to be on deck every day: “It’s going to be cool to be able to swim once morest swimmers French,” he said. “It’s good because we’re all regarding the same age, between 20 and 24-25. It went very well at the Tokyo Olympics, something was created even if the results weren’t there yet (only one medal for the Blues, editor’s note). »
In its wake, the blue collective is indeed regaining color following several gloomy years and Léon Marchand is not the only one who can shine in Rennes. “Last year, it was seen in Budapest where we did well in our competition (eight podiums, editor’s note). We all have a bit of the same delirium, it’s going well and I can’t wait to see them once more. »
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