French swimmer Léon Marchand reveals plans after successful Olympics

Leon Marchand from France competes in a men's 4x100-meter medley relay heat at the Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

French swimmer Léon Marchand was the shining light on the country’s Olympic team last week as he won five medals at the Summer Games, including four gold.

Now, Marchand wants to just kick back and relax as he takes in the rest of the Paris Olympics.

“I’ll try to watch some sports,” Marchand said. “It’s not easy because I have to do business now. And I have a new life, so it won’t be easy to be in the stands with everyone else. But yes, I’m at the Games and I want to enjoy it..”

Marchand received a congratulatory message from French President Emmanuel Marcon poolside. He said trying to deal with the newfound fame may prove difficult.

“This new stardom will be weird for me. This is coming down on me in less than a week,” he said. “I’m very reserved, I’m very shy, I’m not very good at speaking in public. I’d rather be at home with my parents than on the podium in front of 15,000 people.”