How Phelps’ coach turned Marchand into an Olympic swimming legend

Bob Bowman guided Michael Phelps to glory and was in tears after Leon Marchand delivered on his promise in Paris

As the unstoppable Leon Marchand swam to his fourth individual gold medal in six days, the 59-year-old American coach behind the face of the Paris Olympics was moved to tears on the pool deck.

The 22-year-old from Toulouse had just swept the gold medals in all four events he entered, winning the 400m individual medley, then the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke on the same night, and the 200m medley on Friday, clocking Olympic-record times in each. One night after another, Marchand transformed the converted rugby arena in the western Paris suburbs into a white-hot cauldron of sound, holding a country of 68m souls in his thrall.

Dear sir, I am a French swimmer, my name is Leon Marchand (18 years old). I would like to join the university of Arizona State in summer 2021 for swim and compete in NCAA with your amazing team. Do you think I could benefit from a scholarship? What level of education is required? (TOEFL, SAT ...) You will find attached my presentation sheet. Thank you for the time granted to my request.

Sportingly, Leon