Where Does Leon Marchand’s Paris Olympic Performance Rank Among All-Time Greats

As the dust settles from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it’s time to begin applying context to what we saw, and specifically where it fits into the pantheon of all-time great performances at the Olympic Games.

I always find it interesting to try and make an “all-time list” in the aftermath of big moments like these, and then to see how the mood or memory mellows as time goes on and recency bias fades (though I think in swimming that sometimes nostalgia bias is just as strong as recency bias).

The star of the Games was Frenchman Leon Marchand, who at 22 punched his way into lists like the “top 10 greatest male swimmers of all-time” with at least one more Olympics left to go in the prime of his career.

But where does it fit all-time among the greatest single-Olympic swimming performances ever?

The things I thought about, in varying weights, included some of the obvious: the number of gold medals, number of total medals, number of individual medals, and number of World Records set.

The more subjective criteria I applied included “rising to the moment” with criteria like whether an athlete met expectations, how much pressure they had on them, who they beat, and how unprecedented their achievements were.

With all due respect to the singular performances like Adam Peaty and Pan Zhanle, I really didn’t consider one-hit-wonders for this list. It would take a really wild set of relay performances, I think, to overcome winning just one individual gold medal to be in the top 10, for me.

I think the reasonable “modern era” for a list like this is probably beginning in 1968 in Mexico City. That’s when the Olympic schedule expanded significantly and became a lot more stable, and when it feels like the world of swimming really started to become globally deeper.

Here is my top 5 list and where Leon fits into it, plus a few other performances I considered.

Top 5 All-Time Single Olympic Performances in Swimming, Men

Note: I limited this to one-per-athlete. If I were not, I think Phelps’ 2004 performance probably ranks 3rd, and his 2016 performance probably ranks 6th or 7th.

1. Michael Phelps, 8-for-8, 2008 Olympic Games

Positives: 8 gold medals, 11 World Records, 5 individual gold medals, the Lezak relay, the out-touch of Milorad Cavic in the 100 fly, Living up to the hype, really good relay performances

Cons: Supersuits

The undisputed #1. It’s hard to imagine any future performance topping this one, just given the context of where swimming is moving and how the schedule is mapped out.

2. Mark Spitz, 7-for-7, 1972 Olympic Games

Positives: 7 gold medals, 4 individual gold medals, World Records in every swim (individual or relay)

Cons: No individual country was even close to deep enough to challenge the US relays, so those relays have a low WAR (wins-against-replacement) score.

Spitz pulled his 7-for-7 off under the shroud of a lot of political context of the Olympic Games returning to Germany for the first time since the atrocities of World War 2 and the kidnapping of Jewish athletes (Spitz, who is Jewish, was done competing by then and was escorted out of the country).

I think those first two are pretty clear-cut. Here’s where I expect things to get contentious.

3. Leon Marchand, the Salut to Paris, 2024 Olympic Games

Positives: 4 gold medals, all individual, + 1 relay bronze, stood tall and played the hero well in front of a wild home crowd, the 200 fly/200 breast double, four-for-four Olympic Records

Cons: No World Records, only one relay medal, missed best times in a few events, main rivals underperformed (or didn’t exist), schedule change to accommodate his double.

Marchand stood big against the biggest backdrop and the pressure of a home crowd. Winning the 200 breast and 200 fly in the same session was wildly-impressive, though the schedule change to make them almost two hours apart muted that. He definitely made his teammates better on that final medley relay after some of them didn’t swim great in the rest of the meet.

But his main rivals, like Qin Haiyang and Kristof Milak faltered at the meet, none of the world’s other great IMers rose to the challenge, and he didn’t set any World Records. Whether that was his fault or the pool’s fault is up for debate, but history will remember the fact that he missed best times in his best event, the 400 IM.

4. Matt Biondi Had Seoul, 1988 Olympic Games

Positives: Five gold medals, Four World Records, was an irreplaceable leg in the American 800 free relay, beat really good competitors like Tom Jager, sixth medal, individual bronze in the 200 free, showed off ranginess.

Cons: Seoul was not a big rizz Olympics, the 50/100 free double was repeated by Alexander Popov in 1992 and 1996. Out-touched for gold in the 100 fly which would have really put this performance over the top.

American Matt Biondi came away with five gold medals, thanks in part to the Olympic debut of the 50 free. I don’t think history really appreciates just how good Biondi was at those Olympics yet.

5. Caeleb Dressel, 5 Golds in Tokyo

Positives: Five gold medals, three of which were individual, World Records in the 100 fly and 400 medley relays, swam the key leg on that 400 medley relay to hold off Great Britain, fought back big competition from Kyle Chalmers and Kristof Milak.

Cons: Couldn’t take out either of the legendary sprint free World Records, the debacle that was the mixed medley relay (which wasn’t his fault, but he swam on the relay so 🤷).

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics were tough for everyone, I think, but we learned a year later just how much Caeleb Dressel was hurting emotionally at those games. Still, he put up a legendary performance, winning all three of his individual events and the two relays he swam that were on the schedule historically.

Other Performances I weighed

  • Don Schollander, 1964 (USA) – I know this one is a bit outside of the ‘modern era’ we described above, four gold medals in 10 events is a gigantic performance – and he didn’t even swim the 400 medley relay (in spite of winning the 100 free gold medal). In a modern-era schedule, he’s probably winning six gold medals.
  • John Naber, 1976 (USA) – In his first, and only, Olympic Games, Naber hit big winning four gold medals in 1976, including sweeping the 100 and 200 backstrokes individually. He picked up the relay torch from Roland Matthes, who was at the tail end of his career at that point at the ripe old age of *25* and got bronze in the 100 back after sweeping the backstrokes at the prior two Olympics.
  • Alexander Popov, 1996 (Russia) – the individual 50/100 free wins over Gary Hall Jr., but only two gold medals total to go with two relay silvers.
  • Ian Thorpe, 2000 (Australia) – While he won more gold medals in 2000 thanks to relays, I thought his 2004 sweep of the 200/400 free was more impressive, although Australia didn’t have the horses to back him up. Also took a bronze in the 100 free.
  • Michael Gross, 1984 (West Germany) – There’s always a ‘yeah but’ when it comes to medals from 1980 and 1984 thanks to the battling boycotts, but Gross’ World Records in the 200 free and 100 fly both stood up globally. Just .04 seconds separated the American and West German 800 free relays.

I’m sure I missed some obvious choices. Who would you add to this list, and how would you rank them?

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MDE
22 days ago

I think it’s unreasonable to compare individual athletes and weigh relays heavily.

For example:

If Sjostrom was American would she be a better swimmer? Because she would probably have a dozen more Olympic medals had she been born in the US.

I don’t think it’s impossible to argue for Marchand over Spitz. It’s way closer than the simplistic 7 v 4 gold medals suggests.

evansrwlu
24 days ago

Pieter van den Hoogenband in 2000 has to be in your honorable mentions:
-Gold and a WR in the 200, stunning Thorpe who appeared completely unbeatable
-Gold and a WR in the 100, becoming the first to beat Popov at the Olympics as well as Klim who had set the WR on night 1 and was obviously near his peak
-Bronze in the 50, missing out on the sweep by just 0.05, and setting his national record
-In the 4×2 he had by far the fastest split of the meet, making up an 8 tenth deficit to Italy in the next lane to win his (I believe) his country’s first relay medal
-In the Medley… Read more »

Greenangel
Reply to  evansrwlu
24 days ago

VDH was a great swimmer. I agree. And he will be the first sub-48 for ever in the 100 free. I remembered his race in Sydney. I watched it live. 47”84 was incredible, stunning. A blast.

Susan
24 days ago

Not taking away from Spitz…but, there were no semi finals in 72..and no international competition. He underperformed on relays, because of no competition. He swam 11 swims in 7 days.
Phelps swam 17 swims!!

Susan
Reply to  Braden Keith
24 days ago

Phelps had 3 swims in the 200 fly, 100 fly, 200im, 200 free..that’s 12..then 2 in the 4im..that’s 14..then 3 relays..17

Kurt Mills Hanson
24 days ago

agreed relays hold little to no weight when talking about the GOAT – Bob aside the career parallels between Phelps & Leon are crazy – neither medaled at their first Olympics both won four individual gold at their second. Surely Leon adds the 200 or 400 freestyle to his LA 28 program for a shot at 5 wins to equal what Phelps did individually in Beijing. Next question what event is his best shot at victory to add to his program? program wise for mine it’s the 400m freestyle, 200m free is brutal but has that Phelps history behind it – even the 100m breaststroke would look inviting after it was the softest performance in Paris but you know dragon… Read more »

morning call
Reply to  Kurt Mills Hanson
24 days ago

His best shot for 5 golds should have been the 100 breast in Paris. He’s not the best 100 breaststroker in the field but everyone somehow underperformed in that final. He’s definitely capable of a sub-59 swim. He might have had the luck that Phelps had in 100 fly and won that race if he swam it.

Swammer
Reply to  morning call
24 days ago

I think its still possible for him to win the 100 breast going forward. Honestly depends on whether or not Qin was a flash in the pan. Peaty and Fink are old and will retire soon, and despite his clutch win Martineighi has been sorta inconsistent.

If he’s gonna hunt for a 5th gold he should stick to what he knows and go for the 100 fly or 100 breast. His freestyle is good but it’s not gonna win him any Olympic golds

Susan
Reply to  morning call
24 days ago

400 free??

MDE
Reply to  morning call
22 days ago

Given all the male best medalists beat him pretty comfortably in the medley relay I don’t think it’s likely he medals there. I really think the chop in the water affected that final. Field was more spread out in the relay.

Swimdad
24 days ago

Good list but I’d put Dressel’s Tokyo Olympics at #3. Not only did he win more golds than Leon, he also set more WR and won against a deeper field.

Greenangel
Reply to  Swimdad
24 days ago

A deeper field ? Léon beat the current Olympic champion in the 200 fly, Milak, the current Olympic champion in the 200 breast, Stubblety-Cook, the current Olympic champion in the 200 IM, Wang Shun. If that is not a deep field, what is it ?

Last edited 24 days ago by Greenangel
yamatake
Reply to  Greenangel
24 days ago

But Milak, ZSC and Wang are not close to their PBs in Paris.
Milak and Chalmers swam PBs in Tokyo in 100 fly and 100 free respectively when they were racing against Dressel.

Swimdad
Reply to  yamatake
24 days ago

Thank you. Milak barely practiced leading up to the games. Add to the fact that almost all the swimmers complained about the shallow pool. Marchand definitely had some advantages here. Still a phenomenal swimmer but I can’t put his performance top 3 all time.

Greenangel
Reply to  Swimdad
24 days ago

Seriously if Marchand was an american swimmer, would you say the same thing. I don’t think so. And the famous shallow pool. Was it shallow for Marchand ? No. Was it shallow for Finke, an american swimmer, no. He broke the WR. In the 200 fly, OR for Marchand, Milak is the fastest silver medal ever and Kharun is the fastest bronze medal ever. We can put 10 american swimmers in the 10 first places, and you’ll be happy. There will have no debate. During the SwimSwam live race in the 200 fly, Mel Stewart said he didn’t buy all this stuff around Milak and his “no training for weeks”.

yamatake
Reply to  Greenangel
24 days ago

So are we start pretending nothing has happened to Milak? He has mental problems that were serious enough to force him out of Fukuoka. His father passed away. His federation turned against him. These all happened whether Mel buys it or not. The reports about his lack of training might be exaggerated but they are not out of nowhere.

Last edited 24 days ago by yamatake
Swimdad
Reply to  Greenangel
24 days ago

Marchand moved to train in France months ahead of the olympics. Enough time to get used to the shallow pool.

Greenangel
Reply to  Swimdad
24 days ago

For your information, the pool was constructed after the Taylor Swift concerts in Paris in May. Nobody swam in the pool before July for a test. Marchand didn’t swim in the pool before 28th July for the 400 IM. By the way, you say Marchand trained in France months ahead. It’s false. Marchand arrived in France in the last days of May, before his trials mid-June, after the training camp in Colorado with the Bowman group and the Speedo Challenge in Irvine where he swam 59.06 in the 100 breast. You can check.

Last edited 24 days ago by Greenangel
Jeff
Reply to  Swimdad
24 days ago

don’t listen to this. Swimdad makes a lot of comments that make it clear he does not follow much swimming. Doen’t know much about what is going on in swimming outside the US (or in the US)

Greenangel
Reply to  yamatake
24 days ago

Is Marchand’s fault if his rivals were not at their best ? He swam his PB in 3 of his 4 races. In this case what about the 100 breast where Martinenghi swam 59.0.

yamatake
Reply to  Greenangel
24 days ago

I’m not saying it’s his fault or his performance is not incredible. I’m just arguing that Dressel was indeed facing a deeper field.

Milak is the only competition Marchand faced during the Olympics and even this only competitor was not at his best. Rivals in the other three events didn’t put any bit of threat to Marchand throughout the whole race. Only 3 swimmers went under 2:08 in 200 breast, and one of them is barely under, which is far worse than what we expected before Olympics. I won’t call it a deep field.

Greenangel
Reply to  yamatake
24 days ago

I disagree with you. But this is debate. For me, Marchand deserves his third place in this list.

Last edited 24 days ago by Greenangel
Swimdad
Reply to  Greenangel
24 days ago

Purely based on the number if gold medals and World records he doesn’t belong. Sorry. And this has nothing to do with his nationality

Remember he’s coached by an American.

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Swimdad
24 days ago

“number of gold medals”

????

You mean his 4 individual to Dressel’s 3?

Jeff
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
24 days ago

seriously, swimdad would rank an American heat swimmer in a relay with a gold and a silver ahead of a non American with an individual gold. They have more medals after all.

Swimdad
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
24 days ago

I mean his 5 golds to Marchands 4, 2WR to Marchands 0. The top three on the list should have a world record to their name.

Swim2
Reply to  Swimdad
24 days ago

Relay golds are IRRELEVANT

Swimdad
Reply to  Swim2
24 days ago

How about world records?

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  Swimdad
24 days ago

4 golds > 3 golds and 1 WR. But you knew that.

Teddy
24 days ago

I’d rather the discussion without the relays really. They pad world record and medal stats for mainly US swimmers

THEO
Reply to  Teddy
24 days ago

I think they should be discounted, but not removed. Being the hero on a relay in an otherwise busy schedule counts for something!

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  THEO
24 days ago

Yes, and it paints a fuller picture of their meet, but agreed they need to be taken into account only after individual achievements have been measured and weighed

David S
24 days ago

Thorpe would have certainly medalled, probably gold, in 800m if it was available. Not sure if he ever lost an 800m when he raced it. And Spitz might have added a 50 free!

swimfast
Reply to  David S
24 days ago

Thorpe 1,000% would have won the 800 free in both Sydney and Athens

Greenangel
Reply to  swimfast
24 days ago

Don’t forget Grant Hackett. It would have been a great battle between both Aussies in the 800 free.

Bignowhere
Reply to  Greenangel
24 days ago

Hackett and Thorpe had an epic showdown in the 800 in the early 2000s. I forget which meet; not the Olympics obviously. Both were under the WR and Thorpe won. After being nearly even most of the race, Thorpe won by unleashing a 53 second final 100. As long as he could do that, he was always going to beat Hackett in the 800.

MaryHall
Reply to  Bignowhere
24 days ago

Fukuoka 2001 world champs?

bigNowhere
Reply to  MaryHall
24 days ago

Yes, that was it. I found the second 1/2 of the race on youtube:

https://youtu.be/J_nFgdM64oo?si=xkPpPmwAm9t9kcQ7

Thorpe’s kick on the last 100 is insane.

Phil
24 days ago

Disagree that Marchand’s competitors underperformed, it’s more that Léon was superior any how. Plus, I wouldn’t consider no WR as a con, he did swim an OR in his individual races…

Bignowhere
Reply to  Phil
24 days ago

I think Milak underperformed. And ZSC had Covid that week.

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Bignowhere
24 days ago

Crazy how the narrative shifted from “Milak’s fine, he’s still going to win in Paris” to “Milak underperformed” after Marchand beat him

bigNowhere
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
24 days ago

deleted

Last edited 24 days ago by bigNowhere
bigNowhere
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
24 days ago

It isn’t a narrative. Based on his time and pacing, Milak under-performed.

snailSpace
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
23 days ago

It’s actually pretty simple. Based on what his coach and the Federation had been saying last winter, he was in surprisingly good form.
He clearly wasn’t in peak form, so he obviously missed training however.

Last edited 23 days ago by snailSpace

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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