Many of the large stars from the final Olympics can be again on the pool in Paris.
Caeleb Dressel. Katie Ledecky. Ariarne Titmus. Emma McKeon.
However the native favourite would possibly simply shine brightest of all of them.
France’s Léon Marchand has drawn comparisons to the nice Michael Phelps, a hyperlink that was solely strengthened by Phelps’ longtime coach, Bob Bowman, overseeing the 22-year-old’s rise to prominence.
Finally summer season’s world championships in Fukuoka, Marchand broke Phelps’ 15-year-old world report within the 400-meter particular person medley, to go together with victories within the 200 IM and 200 butterfly — two extra of Phelps’ signature occasions.
“Leon has a number of issues that make him an ideal,” Bowman mentioned. “He has velocity and he has endurance. So he form of has the entire package deal that you really want, and to this point he is performed effectively below stress, which is the opposite piece of that equation. He has all of it actually.” Marchand may even have the home-pool benefit in Paris, the place the swimming can be contested in a brief facility arrange contained in the La Défense Area, the 30,000-seat dwelling of the rugby membership Racing 92.
The place figures to be particularly loud each time Marchand steps up on the blocks.
“I get to swim the (400) IM in opposition to the world report holder in his dwelling nation,” mentioned Carson Foster, the highest American hopeful. “That environment goes to be electrical.” Marchand, who swam for Bowman at Arizona State, competed in 4 occasions on the Tokyo Video games, with a finest displaying of sixth within the 400 particular person medley.
However he emerged as one of many sport’s rising stars on the 2022 world championships in Budapest, and his efficiency the next yr in Fukuoka solely raised the stakes heading into his home-country Olympics.
“Once I got here again from Tokyo, I used to be like, Rattling, this is sort of a game-changer. Now I can truly beat these guys fairly quickly,’” Marchand mentioned. ”I do know I can practice higher. I do know I can enhance this.” DOPING CONCERNSSwimming has confronted many doping scandals through the years, going all the way in which again to the East Germans’ rise to prominence within the Nineteen Seventies that was powered by state-sponsored doping.
Now, all eyes are on the Chinese language after reviews that almost two dozen of their high swimmers examined optimistic for banned substances forward of the Tokyo Olympics however have been allowed to compete. 5 of these swimmers went on to win medals, together with three golds.
It was additionally revealed that three of those self same Chinese language swimmers had beforehand examined optimistic for a special substance however confronted no ramifications.
Ledecky mentioned many swimmers have misplaced religion within the World Anti-Doping Company and can not help however marvel if the competitors in Paris can be honest.
Phelps, who gained a report 23 gold medals throughout his profession, went earlier than the U.S. Congress to precise his considerations.
“It’s clear to me that any makes an attempt of reform at WADA have fallen brief, and there are nonetheless deeply rooted, systemic issues that show detrimental to the integrity of worldwide sports activities and athletes’ proper to honest competitors, time and time once more,” he mentioned.
Large rivals
America and Australia have lengthy been the world’s most distinguished swimming nations, fueling a rivalry that can warmth up once more in Paris.
Whereas the Individuals historically have the deepest group, the Aussies have confirmed to be formidable foes in recent times — particularly on the ladies’s facet.
On the 2023 worlds, the group from Down Below captured 13 gold medals in swimming. The U.S. gained seven, although it did lead the general medals desk 38-25.
Mollie O’Callaghan and Kaylee McKeown every gained a pair of gold medals in Fukuoka, Titmus knocked off Ledecky once more within the 400 freestyle, and the Aussies bested the Individuals in each freestyle relays.
Australia at the moment holds seven world data in girls’s occasions, together with Titmus’ marks within the 200 and 400 freestyle.
“Definitely, the Australians are among the finest, if not the most effective, on the planet,” American girls’s coach Todd DeSorbo mentioned. “There’s plenty of occasions for us within the U.S. the place we have nothing to lose. I feel that while you’re the group, the group, the person that has nothing to lose, you are essentially the most harmful.”
Can’t miss race
Essentially the most anticipated occasion on the pool will come on the primary evening.
The ladies’s 400 freestyle will function defending Olympic gold medalist Titmus, 2016 champion Ledecky and Canadian phenom Summer time McIntosh.
Titmus is the favourite to repeat after setting a world report final summer season in Fukuoka, however Ledecky and McIntosh are decided to present her a run for the highest spot on the rostrum.
Ledecky already has six particular person gold medals, greater than every other feminine swimmer, and she or he’ll be favored to seize at the very least two extra in Paris within the 800 and 1,500 free. She’d like to seize one other by knocking off Titmus after settling for the runner-up spot in Tokyo and on the 2023 worlds.
McIntosh is just 17 however has already set world report in each the 400 freestyle and the 400 particular person medley.
Comeback path
Dressel, the tattooed American who gained 5 gold medals in Tokyo, is amongst many swimmers stars who took time away from the pool amid an elevated deal with swimming’s psychological and bodily toll.
Fellow American Simone Manuel, the primary Black girl to seize a person gold in swimming, was sidelined for months as she recovered from overtraining syndrome. Hungarian butterfly gold medalist Kristóf Milák and British breaststroke king Adam Peaty additionally took lengthy breaks to take care of private points.
Dressel certified for 2 particular person occasions in Paris, however he will not get an opportunity to defend his gold medal within the 100 freestyle after ending third in that race on the U.S. trials.
He conceded that his quest to recapture a love of swimming continues to be a bit elusive.
“I am engaged on it,” mentioned Dressel, who walked away from the game within the midst of the 2022 worlds and did not return till the next yr. “I am looking for these moments and actually relish in them.”
Revealed – July 09, 2024 10:17 am IST
