Gold medalist at the 2019 French championships, then twice bronze at the European championships, Léon Marchand then won four Olympic titles during the Paris Games. An exceptional journey, widely praised by the French, but which does not fail to arouse astonishment. How to explain the incredible performances of this athlete, who does everything seem to succeed? Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, gives us some tracks.
Léon Marchand was not always sure of him
Quadruple Olympic champion at the Paris Olympic Games, Léon Marchand, the Toulouse Star swimmer, has often made France shine in the swimming events. He also performed again this Wednesday, July 30, 2025 by making the best time of the 200-meter swimming series, and that of the semi-final of the swimming worlds in Singapore (1 minute 52 seconds 69 hundredths for a world record, this July 30).
A natural ease, which surprises, during each test. “22 years old. And already, this calm solidity. No squander. No excess. Just a form of accuracy. Alignment. He knows what he is doing. He knows where he is going and that is seen”confirms Amélie Boukhobza.
But his apparent serenity, however, is not innate. For a long time, Léon Marchand was surrounded by his anxieties. During confinement, he even borders on burn-out. “I was a little afraid, I didn’t feel legitimate if I did not bring back a medal”he confides in raw media.
“Preparing a competition generated anxiety in him, for fear of disappointing. He was going to swim with the ball in the belly”confirms his coach to our colleagues from Paris Match.
Result ? The young Toulousain really only started to shine when he got to know each other and understand how he worked. “Now I’m not afraid of failure. I am more in mode: I take advantage and try”he says. This is how Léon excels: listening to his needs and perfectly managing the pressure of the competition.
Rare emotional maturity
According to our expert psychologist, Léon Marchand distinguishes himself from other competitors by his exceptional maturity.
“What strikes Léon Marchand is not only talent – but posture. Calm, determination, the almost cold humility with which he speaks of his goals. As if the pressure did not strike him. Or more. As if he recycled it. He also needed to move away, not so much because of the pressure, but rather of the cohue that he aroused”, she says.
A frequent character trait in high level sport.
“In some athletes – and even in some adolescents or young adults – there is what is called a form of early maturity. Not only cognitive, but emotional”, continues the practitioner. “Indeed, he knows remarkably well channeling … and self-regulating. He puts clarity where others panic. A rare lucidity, on oneself and on what has come to do. And it is essential. Without this consciousness, nothing holds”, warns Amélie Boukhobza.
Is this something innate, however? Or is it the fruit of education? From a meeting with the right coach, at the right time? “A little at the same time, surely. And sport plays a key role. Mental preparation, above all, is essential to hold over time. But there is also something else, more intimate: this ability to know each other. To listen to his needs. To respect its limits. It is rare – very rare. But when you get there early, it changes everything. Not because we try to shine – But to move forward. With consistency and consistency “, concludes the practitioner.