After six weeks of vacation, Léon Marchand has made his comeback in the pools. The quadruple medalist at the last Games once again amazed his fans during the World Cup. But for some, obtaining four gold medals and a bronze team medal at the Olympics is simply not normal. So much so that suspicions of doping are in the mouths of Léon Marchand’s detractors.
Faced with so much controversy, Nicolas Castel, his coach at the Toulouse club Dauphins du TOEC, wanted to speak during an interview for Ouest-France: “Doubting is human. What I find unfortunate is the way it’s done. It’s through social networks and it’s always the same people who question performance. We learned to distance ourselves from these unfounded comments.”
Léon Marchand’s coach steps up to the plate
Some criticize Léon Marchand in particular for not having been present when anti-doping controllers came to carry out an unannounced test at the athletes’ village. The young champion was in other accommodation outside the Olympic village. “I know Léon well, his intrinsic qualities and I have no doubt about his integrity. Very few people know what he endures to reach this level“, says his coach, appalled by so many accusations.
Moreover, his American trainer believes that his little prodigy still has good progress to make.
The American coach of the champion discusses the efforts that Léon Marchand must make
For our colleagues from the TeamBob Bowman clarified:
“I think Léon is still far from what he is really capable of doing. There are things he can change and continue to develop over time and over the next four years. There are several reasons to think it can go faster.”
Eternally dissatisfied, the American coach wants the best for his champion: “He can still progress in many areas, he can go for the world record in the 200m medley, that’s a goal,” explained his American coach. “It can keep him motivated. But he still has so much potential. We will improve what he didn’t do well in Paris.”
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