"Not even Michael Phelps did this. Different gravy, this lad"-Fans react as Leon Marchand wins two golds in two hours at the Paris Olympics 

Leon Marchand was on a winning spree on day 5 of the Paris Olympics 2024, winning two gold medals in a span of two hours. The Frenchman broke two Olympic records with his two golds and is being compared to the great Michael Phelps.

Marchand is coached by Bob Bowman, the same person who led Phelps to a record 23 gold medals. The 22-year-old broke the American swimmer’s last standing individual world record in the 400m IM last year at the 2023 World Championships, and at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he broke his Olympic record from the 2008 Olympic Games as well.

After winning the 400m IM gold, Marchand competed in the 200m butterfly finals on July 31, clocking an Olympic record time of 1:51.21 for the gold. An hour later, he took the gold in the 200m breaststroke final in another Olympic record time of 2:05.85, starting the comparisons with Phelps.

"Leon Marchand is in the Thorpe & Phelps conversation now. Not even a hot take. What we’ve seen today is greatness of the highest calibre in the pool," a fan stated.

"Not. Even.Phelps. Did this. Different gravy, this lad," the fan wrote.

Here are some other reactions:

"Leon Marchand is a fu**ing beast that's crazy to win two golds in the same session not even Phelps did that," wrote one fan.

"Leon Marchand is really that guy. What a great decision to move to the US to be coached by Micheal Phelps coach," a fan wrote.

"when your coach trained Micheal Phelps, I am not surprised," a user commeted.

"Man I wish Michael Phelps was still racing so we could've seen him vs Leon Marchand in the generational matchup. That would've been a real passing of the torch moment with the best then vs the best now," another used commented.

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“I had goosebumps” - Leon Marchand after winning his first Olympic gold medal at Paris Olympics 2024

Swimming - Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 5 - Source: Getty

Marchand competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but went medalless, just like Michael Phelps did in his first Olympic Games in 2000. The 22-year-old redeemed himself with an Olympic record in the 400m IM at the 2024 Paris Olympics to win his maiden gold medal and claimed he felt ‘goosebumps’ during that moment.

"I had goosebumps, I felt really proud to be myself and to also be French tonight. It was an amazing time for me. I was really living in the moment," he said (via Olympics.com).

Marchand became the first swimmer in history to win two individual gold medals in a single day at the Olympic Games. The 22-year-old is also the first French swimmer to win three Olympic gold medals.