Léon Marchand swims in Reunion before flying to Australia

He is the greatest French champion of the moment. Quadruple gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Léon Marchand arrived in Reunion Island, where he will participate from Friday December 20 to Sunday December 22 in the 35th Indian Ocean swimming meeting.

With him, seven other “Olympians” from the French swimming team, such as Pauline Mahieu, Clément Secchi or captain Damien Joly, will face the best swimmers from Reunion, Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, South Africa and Mayotte. An event relocated this year to Saint-Denis, in the large Chaudron basin where the stands will be full throughout the weekend.

Watch the report from Réunion la 1ère:

In Saint-Denis, Léon Marchand headlines the 35th Indian Ocean Swimming Meeting

The opportunity to see the star of the Paris Games again, who had skipped the small course world championships in Budapest at the beginning of the month, flushed after an Olympic year during which he won almost everything.

“I decided not to do the world championships because I was exhausted”recalled Léon Marchand in Réunion the 1st, Thursday December 19. “I went to the World Cup in Asia with my little brother, it was great, but when I returned to Toulouse, I had no more juice, no more energy” explains the swimmer.

“So, I decided to refocus on training, to take my time and above all to have fun with this trip to Reunion, a pretty nice competition. I will be able to do a little breaststroke in the deep end, it “It’s great. So, I chose Reunion instead of the world championships, we can say that.” smiles the 22-year-old swimmer, this is his fourth participation in the Indian Ocean meeting. “I’m still very competitive, but the goal is really to recharge my batteries, take time for myself and get back on a healthy footing in 2025”summarizes Léon Marchand.

Who slips in a little scoop along the way: at the start of 2025, he will leave for three months to train in Australia with a new coach. “I’m going to try to change my stroke, my discipline, maybe more crawl, travel a little more, meet other people from different cultures.”

“There, I’m planning to go to Australia in January for two, three months to breathe, see something else, another way of training. I’ll be able to surf, visit Australia…” continues the champion, who has the Los Angeles Olympics in his sights in 2028.

Around him, the young swimmers from Reunion have stars in their eyes. “We are super happy to see him in the pool. We saw him at the Olympics, he won everything, it’s incredible” this teenager is jubilant.

“He’s a national icon of sport and swimming, it inspires me and it amazes me. He’s one of the best swimmers in the world and he’s right in front of me.”struggles to realize this young boy.

The older ones are not left out. “I am a former swimmer, and here I am like a little girl”adds this mother, smiling papaya slice at the sight of the Toulouse athlete.

A magnificent weekend awaits for fans of swimming and sport in general.