With loads of swimming stars on the 2024 Olympics, France’s Marchand might shine brightest

A lot of the huge stars from the final Olympics might be again on the pool in Paris.

Caeleb Dressel. Katie Ledecky. Ariarne Titmus. Emma McKeon.

However the native favourite may simply shine brightest of all of them.

France’s Léon Marchand has drawn comparisons to the good Michael Phelps, a hyperlink that was solely strengthened by Phelps’ longtime coach, Bob Bowman, overseeing the 22-year-old’s rise to prominence.

Eventually summer time’s world championships in Fukuoka, Marchand broke Phelps’ 15-year-old world document within the 400-meter particular person medley, to associate with victories within the 200 IM and 200 butterfly — two extra of Phelps’ signature occasions.

“Leon has a number of issues that make him an awesome,” Bowman stated. “He has velocity and he has endurance. So he type of has the entire bundle that you really want, and to date he is performed properly below stress, which is the opposite piece of that equation. He has all of it actually.” Marchand may also have the home-pool benefit in Paris, the place the swimming might be contested in a short lived facility arrange contained in the La Défense Area, the 30,000-seat house of the rugby membership Racing 92.

The place figures to be particularly loud each time Marchand steps up on the blocks.

“I get to swim the (400) IM in opposition to the world document holder in his house nation,” stated Carson Foster, the highest American hopeful. “That ambiance goes to be electrical.” Marchand, who swam for Bowman at Arizona State, competed in 4 occasions on the Tokyo Video games, with a finest displaying of sixth within the 400 particular person medley.

However he emerged as one of many sport’s rising stars on the 2022 world championships in Budapest, and his efficiency the next yr in Fukuoka solely raised the stakes heading into his home-country Olympics.

“Once I got here again from Tokyo, I used to be like, Rattling, this is sort of a game-changer. Now I can really beat these guys fairly quickly,’” Marchand stated. ”I do know I can practice higher. I do know I can enhance this.” DOPING CONCERNSSwimming has confronted many doping scandals through the years, going all the best way again to the East Germans’ rise to prominence within the Nineteen Seventies that was powered by state-sponsored doping.

Now, all eyes are on the Chinese language after experiences that just about two dozen of their prime swimmers examined optimistic for banned substances forward of the Tokyo Olympics however have been allowed to compete. 5 of these swimmers went on to win medals, together with three golds.

It was additionally revealed that three of those self same Chinese language swimmers had beforehand examined optimistic for a distinct substance however confronted no ramifications.

Ledecky stated many swimmers have misplaced religion within the World Anti-Doping Company and can not help however marvel if the competitors in Paris might be truthful.

Phelps, who gained a document 23 gold medals throughout his profession, went earlier than the U.S. Congress to specific his considerations.

“It’s clear to me that any makes an attempt of reform at WADA have fallen quick, and there are nonetheless deeply rooted, systemic issues that show detrimental to the integrity of worldwide sports activities and athletes’ proper to truthful competitors, time and time once more,” he stated.

Huge rivals

The US and Australia have lengthy been the world’s most outstanding swimming nations, fueling a rivalry that may warmth up once more in Paris.

Whereas the Individuals historically have the deepest staff, the Aussies have confirmed to be formidable foes in recent times — particularly on the ladies’s facet.

On the 2023 worlds, the staff from Down Underneath captured 13 gold medals in swimming. The U.S. gained seven, although it did lead the general medals desk 38-25.

Mollie O’Callaghan and Kaylee McKeown every gained a pair of gold medals in Fukuoka, Titmus knocked off Ledecky once more within the 400 freestyle, and the Aussies bested the Individuals in each freestyle relays.

Australia at present holds seven world data in ladies’s occasions, together with Titmus’ marks within the 200 and 400 freestyle.

“Actually, the Australians are a few of the finest, if not the most effective, on this planet,” American ladies’s coach Todd DeSorbo stated. “There’s a variety of occasions for us within the U.S. the place we have nothing to lose. I believe that once you’re the group, the staff, the person who has nothing to lose, you are probably the most harmful.”

Can’t miss race

Probably the most anticipated occasion on the pool will come on the primary night time.

The ladies’s 400 freestyle will characteristic defending Olympic gold medalist Titmus, 2016 champion Ledecky and Canadian phenom Summer season McIntosh.

Titmus is the favourite to repeat after setting a world document final summer time in Fukuoka, however Ledecky and McIntosh are decided to present her a run for the highest spot on the rostrum.

Ledecky already has six particular person gold medals, greater than another feminine swimmer, and he or she’ll be favored to seize no less than two extra in Paris within the 800 and 1,500 free. She’d like to seize one other by knocking off Titmus after settling for the runner-up spot in Tokyo and on the 2023 worlds.

McIntosh is simply 17 however has already set world document in each the 400 freestyle and the 400 particular person medley.

Comeback path

Dressel, the tattooed American who gained 5 gold medals in Tokyo, is amongst many swimmers stars who took time away from the pool amid an elevated concentrate on swimming’s psychological and bodily toll.

Fellow American Simone Manuel, the primary Black lady to seize a person gold in swimming, was sidelined for months as she recovered from overtraining syndrome. Hungarian butterfly gold medalist Kristóf Milák and British breaststroke king Adam Peaty additionally took lengthy breaks to take care of private points.

Dressel certified for 2 particular person occasions in Paris, however he will not get an opportunity to defend his gold medal within the 100 freestyle after ending third in that race on the U.S. trials.

He conceded that his quest to recapture a love of swimming continues to be a bit elusive.

“I am engaged on it,” stated Dressel, who walked away from the game within the midst of the 2022 worlds and did not return till the next yr. “I am looking for these moments and actually relish in them.”