The accomplished swimmer led ASU to its first national title
Former Arizona State swimmer Leon Marchand is set to turn pro following a overflow of success with the Sun Devils, which he proved to have nothing left to prove at the collegiate level.
On heels of winning its first national title, ASU swim and dive finds itself in a bind with the departure of former Sun Devil head coach Bob Bowman who left for the University of Texas, coupled with the most accomplished swimmer turning pro.
Leon Marchand Pro
–#swim #swimming #roadtoparis #2024 #olympics #texas #goingpro #asu #swimswam #leonmarchand pic.twitter.com/Ri2AOKGP3n
— SwimSwam (@swimswamnews) April 12, 2024
Marchand’s legacy in Tempe will be scattered throughout the record books and trophy cases he filled. According to the former ASU coach, the transition to pro was already planned before Bowman departed to Texas.
The future olympian leaves ASU with countless program, NCAA and world records. Last summer, he set the world record in the 400m IM at the World Aquatic Championships in Japan, doing so at 21 years old, two years younger than when Michael Phelps set the previous world record mark.
As for top marks within ASU, Marchand holds six program records including the 100 free, 500 free, 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM. He holds a whopping five records in the entire NCAA, including the 200 IM, 200 breast, 500 free, 400 free relay and the 400 medley relay. That’s before mentioning he racked up eight individual national titles and two relay titles alongside the team national title victory just a few weeks back.
It’s safe to say the french swimmer will forever be a legend in Tempe.
If the hype train continues the way it’s looking, Marchand will also become a legend in his home nation of France, which also is set to play host for Marchand’s Olympic debut this summer. The move to turn pro will allow Marchand to make much more money from the Olympics than he would have if he had to follow NIL rules.
This isn’t the end of the Marchand and Bowman partnership. Bowman’s former swimmer will join him in Texas to train for the Olympics. Interestingly enough, Bowman will join the French coaching staff in Paris.
Bowman says he’s joining the French team’s staff to avoid any conflict of interest after last year’s world championships where Bowman still coached Marchand while also serving as the head coach of the USA team.