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Leon Marchand

Reuters

French swimmer and overnight sensation Leon Marchand celebrated his crop of medals with fans on Monday (August 5), dancing and taking selfies on stage while being showered in golden confetti.It was Marchand’s first time meeting supporters after a week of back-to-back Olympic events at the Paris La Defense Arena.&quot;Four gold medals, this is more than I dreamed of,&quot; Marchand told journalists.The &quot;French Michael Phelps&quot; - as some media have dubbed him - lived up to expectations with four golds, going to places that not even the American great had.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/8/1/superstars-marchand-and-ledecky-light-up-olympic-pool-1602">READ: Superstars Marchand and Ledecky light up Olympic pool</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/31/france-win-women-triathlon-and-home-hero-marchand-targets-more-golds-1755">READ: France win women&#x27;s triathlon and home hero Marchand targets more golds</a></div>No swimmer had ever won the 200 meters butterfly and breaststroke at a Games -- or perhaps even contemplated it.Yet, 22-year-old Marchand won both within two heady hours to send French fans into delirium.He also won the 200 and 400m medley golds in a France first.Not even the great Ian Thorpe generated such a buzz at Sydney 2000.The Toulouse native shunned suggestions of him dethroning Phelps, saying the American was a legend of the sport.&quot;I&#x27;m going to try to make a name for myself, rather than Michael&#x27;s. He&#x27;s contributed a lot to world sport and that&#x27;s it, I&#x27;m going to leave him where he is,&quot; he said.Marchand said his performance at the pool was &quot;almost perfect,&quot; pointing at room for improvement, having missed the world record in 200 meters relay by 6/100 of a second.After his phenomenal Olympics run, Marchand said &quot;a new life&quot; begins, and that it was not going to be easy to deal with what would follow his success.Hundreds of fans paid 5-euro tickets to see Marchand and his teammates in the flesh on Monday, ecstatic and full of praise for France’s newest sports idol.&quot;We&#x27;ll see him again for a long, long time,&quot; fan Thierry Darnis said.<div>(Production: Manuel Ausloos, Michaela Cabrera)</div>

France's instant idol Leon Marchand greets fans after winning five Olympic medals, and says his performance in the pool was 'almost perfect'.

France's instant idol Leon Marchand greets fans after winning five Olympic medals, and says his performance in the pool was 'almost perfect'.

French Olympian Leon Marchand propelled to stardom after medal haul

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French Olympian Leon Marchand propelled to stardom after medal haul

Reuters

Published Aug 06, 2024 02:32 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 06, 2024 03:05 PM PHT

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swimming

Leon Marchand

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2024 Olympics

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