"I hide under a cap and glasses" - Leon Marchand opens up on dealing with fame after his Paris Olympics victorious streak

By Janhavi Shinde

Modified Oct 17, 2024 03:16 GMT

Swimmer Leon Marchand opened up about the challenges of navigating newfound fame following his brilliant performance at the Paris Games. The 22-year-old made his second appearance at the Games in the French capital.

At the Games held in his home country, Marchand collected five medals, including four gold and a silver medal. The Toulouse-born athlete broke multiple Olympic records, including Michael Phelps' 2008 400m medley record, which he set during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In a recent interview, the 22-year-old discussed how his life has transitioned since the Games, noting that he has lost spontaneity in daily activities. While the French national appreciated fans' love and attention, he stated that his simple outings now require planning. He further mentioned wearing a cap and glasses for privacy in public.

"I'm probably going to lose a bit of freedom and spontaneity. The first few weeks after the Games were a bit complicated because it was quite radical, but it's OK, I'm handling it well."

He added:

I'm taking it well because it's really kind, it's all positive. People thank me in the street and I take it to heart. At the pool, there aren't too many people waiting for me. After the training, of course I can't go to a restaurant just like that or go shopping alone anymore. I need to plan ahead, to go with other people, or else, I hide under a cap and glasses. For the most part, that's enough." (via Olympic.com)

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"It was hard to get back" - Leon Marchand reflects on his first training session after the Paris Olympics appearance

Leon Marchand of Team France reacts after the Men's 200m Individual Medley Semifinals at the Paris Olympic Games 2024 in France (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)

Leon Marchand recently expressed that returning to training following his Olympic success was challenging for him. He stated that it was the first time he had taken such an extended break, which led to difficulty in getting into the water.

Although he experienced aches and pain, realizing his body required time to adjust, Marchand asserted that he hadn't lost his speed.

“It was hard to get back into it. It’s the first time I’ve taken so much vacation. As a result, the sensations weren’t very good in the water, and I discovered that I had a lot of aches and pains. On the other hand, I can still swim pretty fast.” (via Olympic.com)

Leon Marchand secured gold medals in the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 200m medley, and 400m medley.