According to an exclusive Ipsos/Talan survey for La Tribune Dimanche, Léon Marchand stands out as the most notable personality of 2024 in France. Hero of the Paris Olympic Games, the French swimmer won the hearts of the French thanks to his exceptional performances and his international aura.
Léon Marchand left an indelible mark on the year 2024, confirms the La Tribune Dimanche survey. Not only did he establish himself as the best French swimmer, but he also dominated the world stage during the Paris Olympics. At Paris La Défense Arena, in a temporary pool designed for the event, he won four gold medals, all with Olympic records (200m medley, 400m medley, 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke), as well as a bronze medal in relay (4x100m medley).
Assuming your status as ultra-favorite in the face of maximum pressure and succeeding in your home country: this is what sets Léon Marchand apart. It alone symbolizes the resounding success of the Paris 2024 Games.
A year marked by the Olympic Games and a survey which honors the swimmer
Among the French people surveyed, 46% place Léon Marchand at the top of the notable personalities of the year, ahead of figures like the judoka Teddy Riner (30%) or the rugby player Antoine Dupont (27%). This popular triumph reflects the admiration aroused by his talent and his ability to shine in the spotlight.
Brothers Alexis and Félix Lebrun, rising stars of French table tennis, complete the men's top 5 with 19%. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, is the only non-sporting personality in the men's ranking, with 25%.
For 43% of French people surveyed, the Paris Olympic Games are the most significant event of the year, ahead of the election of Donald Trump (38%), the dissolution of the National Assembly (37%), and the floods in France and abroad (29%).
Léon Marchand thus stands as the central figure of an event which embodied excellence and collective success. By making France and the world vibrate, he proved that he is much more than a champion: a source of inspiration for an entire generation.
