The Frenchman, who is quickly becoming a home-country hero for his decisive wins in the pool at these Paris Summer Olympics, was on the blocks again at Paris La Defense Arena for the last of his individual events, the 200-m individual medley.
Marchand wasn't first to hit the wall after the first 50-m butterfly; he was out-touched by China's Wang Shun. But he led after the next 50 m with backstroke, and really pulled ahead in the breaststroke to take it home with the final 50-m freestyle.
Carson Foster from Team USA, swimming in the lane next to Marchand as the second fastest qualifier, said I hope everyone appreciates what they're seeing and [his accomplishments] don't get lost in the comparisons to [Michael] Phelps.
Marchand is becoming enough of a hero that France's President, Emmanuel Macron, was in the arena to watch the Toulousian and revel in the chance to express some French pride.
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