French Gold Medalist Leon Marchand Snubs Interview With Lea Salame’s People-Focused Olympics Show Because ‘It Doesn’t Go Against His Principles’

Leon Marchand, the 22-year-old champion swimmer who made Team France proud with four gold medals and one silver at the Paris Olympics, is becoming one of the greatest athletes in sports.

After completing his final tournament on Monday, Marchand, who is from Toulouse, southern France, and visited Paris with his parents and brother, embarked on a wall-to-wall media tour but he reportedly boycotted one of the Olympics. the most popular talk show, “Quels Jeux,” hosted by the prominent journalist Lea Salamé and broadcast by France Televisions.

According to the newspaper Le Parisien, it’s because Salamé’s show “doesn’t match his standards,” although they didn’t elaborate on why that might be.

However, undermining has been the talk of France’s Olympics-crazed media. “Quels Jeux” has been criticized for being celebrity-heavy at the expense of real games, providing only a platform for comparison. Ms Salamé, whose hits are often political, has also been ruled out for not having enough sporting experience to host a program focused on the Olympic Games.

That didn’t stop Marchand from being greeted like a hero on Monday night, when he visited Club France, the biggest Olympic fan base that brings together a daily average of 40,000 people and the winning French athletes. A frenzied crowd erupted into loud cheers and chants of “Leon President” as soon as the Olympic champion walked on stage.

Although not seeking a political career, Marchand also counts French President Emmanuel Macron among his ardent followers. Macron was seen jumping for joy in Paris’ La Defense arena when Marchand won his fourth gold medal in Aug. 2. The French president, who saw his popularity plummet after dissolving the French National Assembly and calling snap elections shortly before the Olympics. , later posted a picture of himself shaking Marchand’s hand in an X with the message “Impossible it’s not French! Four GOLD medals at home and a new Olympic record, is history. I’m Leon Marchand.

Marchand, who moved to Phoenix, Arizona, three years ago, was like a fish out of water as he stepped under the light. Speaking to enthusiastic fans at Club France on Monday, the athlete said, “I don’t have much to say. Guys, you were monstrous. Really. It was great to see you on the stands. You make the Games a miracle. So thank you, everyone.”

Macron owes Marchand a lot of money. The champion contributed a lot to the success of these Olympics, and changed the mood of the French people – from despair to joy – in less than 10 days. He also helped France achieve its record of history of 48 awards so far, placing the country in third place after the US and China.

In an interview with France Televisions host Anne-Sophie Lapix, he said “because of his (education),” he is “humbled.” “My parents are there to remind me. I put my feet down. I also have studies on the side,” said Marchand, who is studying computer science at Arizona State University.

Speaking about his sudden fame, he told Lapix that “It’s a really big change. I’m stuck. I’d rather be at home with my parents than on stage in front of 15,000 people.”

“It’s not easy for me after nine days of intense competition. I realize my new situation. (…) Being in front of 15,000 is not my comfort zone. (…) And for photography I had to wear five medals around my neck; it’s heavy!” he said with a smile, adding that seeing the fans “up close” during the tournament was a “great time.”

Nicknamed “dolphin” by his French supporters, in March he moved to Arizona to train with Bob Bowman, coach of the 23rd American Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. He told Lapix that he had been preparing for these Olympic Games for five years. “This is a good week. It’s a lot of work.” In an interview with AFP (taken by Le Figaro) in February, Marchand revealed that he shares a house with four other swimmers about 10 minutes from campus and wakes up every day with 5 am to train starting at 6 am.