After his four victories at Paris Olympic GamesLéon Marchand seems to be inexhaustible in the eyes of his fans. However, the famous French swimmer also has his limits. And he seems to have reached them at the end of 2024, when he was to participate in the Budapest Worldsfrom December 10 to 15.
The French athlete had no intention of resting after its resounding success at the last Olympic Games. The new swimming star was also determined to go to the World Short Course Championshipswho must soon stand in Hungaryhas Budapest. However, an unexpected problem will prevent him from participating in the competition.
Léon Marchand makes an unexpected decision before the Budapest Worlds
The year 2024 was particularly successful for Léon Marchand. The athlete managed to win four Olympic gold medals in the 400m medley, 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and 200m medley events. But the young athlete will certainly not go further this year. The swimmer has in fact just announced that he forfeits for the Short Course World Championships in Budapest.
The news was probably difficult to digest for the young sportsman. However, Léon Marchand no longer feels fit enough to participate in another sporting competition. “2024 has been very intense, I have done a lot of big competitions and I am exhausted”he said in an Instagram post last Saturday. “It’s time for me to step back, train hard and start preparing for future challenges”added the famous swimmer.
The French swimming federation supports Léon Marchand in his decision
For a sportsman so talented that Léon Marchand, forfeiting is never an easy decision. According to the athlete, however, he had no choice. In an interview with The Teamthe French swimming federation assured that he understood the Toulouse resident. “You have to digest”indicated its technical director, Julien Issoulié.
“Becoming at 22 the best athlete in the world this year, breaking all records, no longer being able to go out into the street and breathe… He has to take care of himself”estimates the French swimming federation. Obviously, Léon Marchand can no longer take his status of star swimming. In any case, this is what the federation put forward in another interview, this time on RMC Sport.
“He's fed up (…) It's not fed up with swimming, it's more fed up with the whole environment. And I think Léon, above all, wants to go back to Léon the athlete, and not necessarily Léon the number one sportsman of the year in France and abroad”underlines Julien Issoulié. We will certainly have to wait a little longer to see Léon Marchand again in competitions.
