Can Leon Marchand be Michael Phelps' former coach Bob Bowman's new star prodigy at Paris Olympics? Exploring pursuits of the French swimmer

Paris Olympics 2024 is just days away, and Leon Marchand is bound to be the center of attraction. In just one year, the French swimmer has surprised everybody with his performances, including five gold medals from the 2022 and 2023 World Championships.

However, there's a reason for that. Son of a former Olympian Xavier Marchand, Leon is being trained by Bob Bowman, the coach who gave the world a legend like Michael Phelps.

Bob Bowman, the current coach of swimming champion Leon Marchand

Bowman was coaching at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club when he spotted the potential in the then-teenage sensation Phelps and trained him personally for the Athens Olympics 2004. The rest, as they say, is history.

So, can world champion and world record holder Leon Marchand match up to the expectations of Bob Bowman and create history at the Paris Olympics?

Who will challenge Leon Marchand in Paris?

The 22-year-old swimmer, who is representing France at the Paris Olympics, will be participating in a total of six events — 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley [in which he also holds the current world record], 4x200m freestyle relay, and 4x100m medley relay. These events will be held between July 27 and August 4 at the Paris La' Defense Arena.

A preview of Paris La' Defense Arena, where Marchand will aim for Olympic glory [Image Source: Getty]

Marchand has shown his might in the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, and 400m individual medley, where he won gold medals at the 2023 World Championships. However, the Paris Olympics could be far from a cakewalk. Here are a few swimmers who can give Leon Marchand a run for his money.

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#3) Zac Stubblety-Cook [Australia]

Zac Stubblety Cook in action at Tokyo Olympics [Image Sources: Getty]

The previous world record holder of the 200m breaststroke event, Zac Stubblety-Cook from Australia is the defending Olympic champion this time, as well as the silver medalist from the previous year's World Championships. He will be one of the main challenges to Leon Marchand in this category.

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#2) Wang Shun [China]

Wang Shun, the 'Asian dark horse' who can challenge Marchand in Paris [Image Source: Getty]

While he may not be a world record holder, Wang Shun is not a pushover either.

This Chinese swimmer has won two consecutive medals in the 200m individual medley, including a historic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the first for any Asian swimmer. If Marchand has to make his mark in Paris, he must overcome this challenge at all costs.

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#1) Kristof Milak [Hungary]

Kristof Milak of Hungary, the toughest challenger for Leon Marchand

Marchand might win at least four Olympic gold medals, even five. However, for the perfect six, he must face this former Youth Olympic champion, who is also the world record holder in the 200m butterfly.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Kristof Milak won a silver medal in the 100m butterfly as well as a gold medal in the 200m butterfly event. Apart from that, Milak has also won gold medals in the 100m and the 200m butterfly events at the 2022 World Championships. For Marchand, the 200m butterfly event would be one of the toughest to win, courtesy of this Hungarian champion.