Léon Marchand, the quadruple Olympic champion in swimming, has made headlines not only for his remarkable achievements in the pool but also for his aspirations beyond sports. Since winning his first gold medal in the 400m individual medley on July 28, 2024, Marchand's life has transformed dramatically.
In an exclusive interview with World Aquatics, the 22-year-old swimmer expressed his passion for astrophysics and astronomy, revealing a desire to work in these fields in the future. Marchand stated, "Since I was a child, I have really loved astrophysics, astronomy, and space. In recent years, I've realized that I might be able to work in this subject. So, I would like to do that later on."
Additionally, Marchand has interests in music, particularly in mixing electronic genres such as House music. He humorously remarked on the idea of being both an Olympic champion and an astronaut, suggesting a future where he could blend these two passions.
The French astronaut Thomas Pesquet even referred to Marchand as a “new extraterrestrial” following his Olympic performances, hinting at the potential collaboration between these two Toulouse natives in the future.