Triple World Champion and 400 IM World Record holder Leon Marchand withdrew from competition at the 2023 U.S. Open Championships. Plagued with sinus issues and then surgery to remove his wisdom teeth, coach Bob Bowman kept Marchand home, recovering, and focused on getting back to top form over the winter training cycle. Wisdom teeth surgery is minor, but in an Olympic training year it’s still a punch backward. What does this mean for Marchand going forward? As of ASU’s most recent dual meet last week he swam:
- 1:32.6 – 200 yard free
- 53.0 – 100 yard breast
- 42.3 – lead-off on the 4×100 yard free relay
- 23.1 – 50 yard breast split on the 4×50 medley
Those times signal he’s on track to wow us again at the 2024 NCAA Championships. And, yes, I’m also factoring in Olympic Fever fuelling him in training this year.
SwimSwam will back on deck at the battle of the titans, Cal Vs. ASU, next week. For swim nerds keeping score, last year at this meet Leon broke the 400 IM NCAA record, and then he went on to break it two more times–at PAC 12s and NCAA Championships.
I’m holding off on the NCAA predictions game until next week’s big dual meet, but you can play however want.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
I saw Dr Sammy Lee for a major ear/ sinus infection..I was so swollen, it looked like mumps..I was hoping for a few days off..in my saddest voice, I asked how long I needed to stay out of the water..he looked at his watch, and said that I had time to make afternoon workout!! NOOO
My dentist said I had no wisdom teeth is that weird?
I had a deviated septum from breaking my nose as a kid that I never dealt with and would always get sinus infections until I had surgery to repair it. I still get sinus infections from indoor pools or the ocean sometimes but hardly ever from outdoor pools.
i’m sorry but he’s not special just because he’s leon marchand… almost all male collegiate swimmers deal with illness and have to get their wisdom teeth removed
How many of them broke the 400IM record?
I used to have chronic sinus problems. Nose plugs worked for me. None since
We will never know the full extent of the illness. I have a source in AZ that said this video was not accurate. It is going to take him a year + to be at 100%.
…his recent times reflect otherwise…but we’ll know more next week.
What’s meet is up next Week?
Forget it, did read it now
I have a source that says you’re full of sh*t
Not Mono then. At least we know he wasn’t kissing Regan
What’s crazy is Marchand doesn’t even need to be at his best to score a guaranteed 60 points.
Yeah, ASU relays will be slightly worse off, but realistically that’s only a 10-20 point swing at worst