2023 French Elite Swimming Championships
- June 10-15, 2023
- Rennes, France
- LCM (50m)
Although Leon Marchand has already said he won’t be expanding his individual event lineup this summer at the 2023 World Championships, the Arizona State superstar is planning on entering a few additional events at the French Elite Swimming Championships next month.
Marchand, who will turn 21 on May 17, is the defending world champion in the men’s 200 and 400 IM, and he also is the reigning World Championship silver medalist in the 200 butterfly.
He has maintained that he will keep the same individual lineup at this year’s championships in Fukuoka, opting not to race the 200 breaststroke (despite swimming the fastest time ever in the short course event in March) due to its proximity to the 200 IM at Worlds.
However, in a recent interview with the French Swimming Federation (FFN), Marchand said he’s planning on racing the event at the French Elite Championships in June, and has designs on keeping it in his lineup for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
He also said he’ll be taking on the 200 freestyle next month with hopes of contributing to France’s 800 free relay.
“In Fukuoka, I think I will have the same program as in Budapest last year: 200 and 400 medley and 200 butterfly,” he told FFN, translated from French.
“The 200 breaststroke is never very well placed during Worlds, unfortunately. On the other hand, at the Paris Olympics, I think I will take part in the 200 breaststroke. In any case, I will swim this event at the French championships in Rennes. Without forgetting the 200 freestyle which I would also like to compete in Brittany, in order to integrate the 4×200 m freestyle relay in Japan.”
Marchand broke the French Record in the 200 breast last year at the Spanish Summer Championships in a time of 2:08.76, and could conceivably challenge for a medal at the highest level given the progression he’s made over the last year.
In the 200 free, Marchand recorded the fastest SCY relay split in history at the NCAA Championships (1:28.42), and he showed solid form last year by splitting 1:47.59 on the French relay at the World Championships.
His fastest flat start time in the event is 1:53.74, set in 2019.
Looking towards the 800 free relay, Marchand is optimistic the French team can fight for a spot on the podium.
“I really want to join the 4×200 freestyle because I think we will already have a good chance of a medal in Japan and even more in Paris in 2024,” he said. “I have to try to set a good time to be able to integrate it. It can really be a nice race.”
Marchand also said he wants to be a part of the 400 medley relay. When asked if he’ll swim breast or fly, he simply said, “we’ll see.”
France finished seventh at the 2022 World Championships in the men’s 800 free relay, with Marchand teaming up with Jordan Pothain, Roman Fuchs and Hadrien Salvan in the final.
Pothain retired after Worlds last year, but Marchand, Fuchs and Salvan form a strong trio for France to build their 800 free relay from over the next year, with Mewen Tomac, Yebba Wissam-Amaziga, Enzo Tesic and Maxime Grousset all potential options to round out the squad.
The 2023 French Elite Swimming Championships will run June 10-15 in Rennes, France.
Interesting that he’s keen on the 200 breast and 200 free relay. They are literally back to back in Paris so will be quite the double if he does both.
He will not swim the 200 free in Paris. Just in the relay. It’s a race he’s saving for after the Olympics. He wants to swim it. Like Phelps did, I have a feeling he’ll give up the 400 medley to focus on other races, 200 free, 200 breast. But I could be wrong. Wait and see…
The relay is the problem because 200 breast semis and 4×200 free final are back to back.
I don’t think it’s a problem. He’s training for and will be able to do two races in a row. Assuming he makes it to the finals of all the races he’s entered in (400 IM, 200 IM, 200 fly, 200 breast plus two relays), he will swim 13 races. Phelps did it in the past. Why not Marchand?
Looking forward to it, last time someone said that he could challenge the ZAC 200 breaststroke world record, although I don’t think so, but it’s very fun to watch
I don’t think he said he wanted to break the 200 breaststroke WR. He’s far from it. His PB and French record is 2.08:76. Almost three seconds off the WR. However, I think his ambition is to win an Olympic medal in Paris. But he will have to swim much faster than today. It’s true.
his answers *chefs kiss*
I’m not sure what their options are in butterfly, but 2022 WCs they had a 1:00 breastroke split and a 51.40 (Leon) split.
I can’t wait for Marchand to not break 1:46 in 2 free and everyone act completely flabbergasted
Even if he went 1:46 low that would be a great position to be in. I don’t think he’s going to be really rested for this and why should he? He’ll be in a good position regardless.
why all the hate against marchand he is right now the best swimmer in the world maybe he won’t be under 1:46
but we shouldn’t wish that on him.
I can’t wait for Marchand to not break 2:06 in 200 breast and everyone act completely shocked.
very few people think he can actually break the wr in the 200 br especially in french championship
I dare say NO ONE thinks he will break the world record in the 200 brst at the french champs. But when he chooses to swim it at full rest meet, it would not be unreasonable at all to consider he might put ZSC’s WR in jeopardy.
I’ve been waiting to see some long course freestyle from this guy. Should be interesting to see if he can translate his short course success given how filthy his underwaters are.
At ASU where he trains they swim a lot of LCM.
Do you think he will break the 400 IM WR at French Trials? With a little rest…I mean he went 4.07 the other day preasumably without shaving or tapper
I don’t think so. I hope he will be able to swim between 4’05 and 4’07. It would be a strong signal for his opponents. I could be wrong but I think on the other hand that he will make a big time in the 200 IM. Maybe the European record hold by Laslo Cseh (1.55:18). I see a French record in the 200 Breaststroke, maybe sub 2’08”. And around 1’46” in the 200 free. I would have liked to see him in shorter events like 100 breast or 100 fly. But it’s not in his schedule.