The cheers for Leon Marchand thundered inside La Defense Arena on Sunday as he sat in the call room before the 400-meter individual medley, and then as he appeared in the pool area, as he was introduced in Lane 4, and then as he ascended the staring block, and, then, as he rocketed past seven other swimmers in the water with a ruthless, envious elegance.
The French cheering section sang La Marseillaise, their national anthem, before the finals session began and chanted Marchand’s name moments as he walked onto deck.