Leon Marchand, the French swimming sensation, has been named Europe’s Best Athlete 2024 after an outstanding performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He defeated high-profile rivals such as cyclist Tadej Pogačar and pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, scoring a total of 155 points.
Marchand’s Olympic achievements were truly historic; he won four gold medals in individual events – 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 200m medley and 400m medley – as well as a bronze medal in the 4x100m medley relay. This achievement made him only the fourth swimmer in history to win four gold medals in individual events at a single Olympic Games, cementing his status as a swimming icon.
In addition to the medals, Marchand set four Olympic records, one for each of his gold wins, marking a new era in competitive swimming reminiscent of the legendary Michael Phelps. His outstanding achievements at the age of just 22 captured the imagination of sports fans and made him a hero of French sport.
Following Marchand in the rankings were Tadej Pogačar, who had an exceptional cycling season, and Armand Duplantis, who went on to break world records in the pole vault. Marchand’s recognition was a significant milestone in his burgeoning career and underlines the competitive spirit of European sport.
