Article by Roxana Fleşeru – Published on Sunday, 07 December 2025, 21:46 / Updated on Sunday, 07 December 2025 21:55
Leon Marchand (23), a four-time Olympic champion in Paris, is in a transition year as he looks for trials to add to his portfolio. He participated this weekend at the US Open, a competition held in Austin (Texas), where he is training with American coach Bob Bowman. The Frenchman entered five events, winning two: 400m freestyle and 200m butterfly.
Leon Marchand, the star of the Paris Olympics, continues his training in the USA with the legendary coach of Michael Phelps.
The four-time Olympic champion participated this weekend at the US Open, a competition held in the 50 m pool in Austin (Texas). In the three days of competition, Marchand had five events.
4 Olympic gold medalsconquered Leon Marchand in Paris, these being conquered in 200 m breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 200 m mixed, 400 m mixed
On Friday, he smashed his personal best in the 400m freestyle, clocking a time of 3:44.70 in the final, where he placed first. His record time before this competition was 3:48.62.
The French tests the free trials; he wants to add to his program, at a major competition, a test of the neck. It remains to be seen whether it will be the 200m freestyle or the 400m freestyle.
On Friday, he stopped in the 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke heats, qualifying for the 100m butterfly final. He posted a new personal best of 51.20 in the final, placing third.
Leon Marchand: “There are technical aspects that I need to work on”
On Saturday, the Frenchman also climbed to the first step of the podium in the 200 m butterfly, with a time of 1:52.57, the event in which he is the reigning Olympic champion, without setting a new personal record, but registering the best performance of this season.
Marchand showed up for the competition in Austin after a three-week training camp at altitude in Colorado. “The internship really paid off. Then there are technical aspects that I need to work on, especially on the turns. My approach in front of the wall has not been good at all in these races.” Marchand said, as quoted by L'Équipe.
2 world titlesbeat Leon Marchand in Singapore 2025 in the 200m and 400m medley
“He can still progress quite a bit. Now we have to resume training, without a break,” Bob Bowman told the quoted source, who sees this season as a preparation base for the 2028 Olympics.
The next time trials for Leon Marchand will be in mid-January, again in Austin, then in early March near Chicago, each time in the Olympic pool. The French National Championships in Saint-Étienne (June 27-July 2) and then the European Championships in Paris (August 10-16) will follow.
