Nagoya, Japan, September 9, 2026: The world’s leading swimmer, Leon Marchand, will be gracing the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya with his formidable presence this month.
The 24-year-old Frenchman, who won four gold medals and one bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, will be visiting Nagoya ahead of the Asian Games opening ceremony on September 19.
His activities will include a 30-minute training session with local schoolchildren at Nagoya City Higashi Sports Centre on Friday, September 18, starting at 11.30am.
With news that the former Barcelona and Spain captain, Carles Puyol, will be coming to Nagoya to promote teqball, the presence of Marchand will add even more star quality on the sidelines of the Asian Games.
Considered a promising swimmer during his first Olympic Games in Tokyo, Marchand became an icon of French sport at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, winning four individual gold medals in Paris, including two on the same day in the 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly. His other gold medals came in the 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley, with a bronze in the men’s 4 x 100m medley relay.
Along with his four titles at Paris 2024, Marchand achieved four Olympic records, with his remarkable feats captivating the world.
In recognition of his achievements, he carried the Olympic flame during the closing ceremony, ending his second Olympic Games in spectacular fashion.
Marchand also has seven gold medals and two silvers in three appearances at the World Aquatics World Championships, and is the world record-holder in the 200m and 400m individual medley.