An embarrassing sequence? This Monday, September 30, in Quotidien, Léon Marchand was invited on the set. The young swimmer thrilled France this summer, during the Paris Olympic Games, bringing home no less than four gold medals and a bronze medal. An exceptional performance for the Frenchman, only 22 years old. On the Yann Barthès set, he talks about his popularity since he is stopped every day by fans who thank him or who ask him for selfies. He confides that during his races, the atmosphere was unique: he could hear the supporters even in the water and he had never experienced that. This atmosphere gave him the strength to win his races and brought him closer to his fans.
Throughout the interview, the athlete confides in his lifestyle. For example, he explains eating five real meals a day. He also confides that fame is not his main goal. “It was a big change for me, it’s not easy at the beginning” he tells the host. “I’m an introvert, so anything in public isn’t really my strong point. I’m very solitary (…) Over the past month and a half, that’s changed.” At the end of the interview with the young athlete, Maïa Mazaurette launches her column. The subject: the body of swimmers, an “ideal”. “It takes us back to the origins of athletics, when athletes competed naked, the public had to be able to see the athlete’s body. Since then, to my greatest despair, we invented the tracksuit” says the columnist.
The minute of Yann Barthès
A particularly awkward passage?
When Maïa Mazaurette starts talking about “sexy” bodies when talking about swimmers, Pablo Mira allows herself to joke: “Come on, we’ll leave her alone eh”. This sentence seems to reflect an embarrassment already present on the set. She continues anyway and explains that women would naturally be attracted to men who can pass on good genes. According to her, Léon Marchand’s physique would therefore carry these genes. But that’s not all: she continues the comparisons by drawing a parallel between the movements of swimmers and the sexual act.
On X, Internet users are particularly bothered by the column. Many consider Léon Marchand too young to be sexualized. Others claim that if it had been a woman in the athlete’s position, the sequence would have been unacceptable and is therefore not correct. In any case, negative comments about the columnist have flooded the social network.
VIDEO. This content might also interest you
