Whatever the French athletes do until the end of the Olympic Games, it can already be clearly stated that the nation has a new hero, a guy who delighted the world with his editions in Paris in recent days and reminded how spectacular swimming at the Olympics can be.
Leon Marchan, a 22-year-old from Toulouse, has grown so much for the hearts of his compatriots that he simply "nailed" all the fans who were not lucky enough to be in the "Defons Arena" to the TV screen. Thus, Maršan's races were watched with great enthusiasm in restaurants, cafeterias, even through video projectors in the squares where, after cheering, the anthem "Marseille" could also be heard.
What did Leon do in Paris? He won four golds, the most in the history of France if one appearance at the Games is counted.
He celebrated in the 400-meter medley, then he won two more golds in the 200-meter breaststroke and breaststroke, and he crowned everything when, along with another Olympic record, he grabbed the brightest medal in the 200-meter medley as well. He also has a bronze in the 4x100 meter medley relay, so it is clear that he is one of those who marked the 2024 Olympic Games.
Sports achievements are huge, and in France Marchan is now so popular that he is recognized for having done in difficult times what football players at the recent Euros, basketball players during the Olympic Games could not do, which even politicians have yet to succeed in - to unite the French people, who are probably more divided than ever.
Everyone is cheering for Maršan and these days everyone was cheering, so during the final race two evenings ago in the stands of the "Defons Arena" you could see a banner:
"March for Prime Minister".
The president of the country saw all this live Emanuel Macron who does not hide that he adores Maršan and that he is his favorite at the Games.
Extraordinary elections were held in France in July, when the left-wing bloc overthrew the right-wing bloc in the second round. Marine Le Pen. Because of Maršan and the Games, all that is currently on the back burner.
"These days, the most important event in France was the Marches race. This has not happened in our country for a long time", wrote "Le Mond".
Because of Maršan, the media these days reminds us of the famous movie "Leon: The Professional", shot in 1994, eight years before the golden Olympian was born. That film was made famous by the legendary French actor Jean Reno, he played a professional killer, and the debut role was played by a well-known actress Natalie Portman, then a girl of less than 13 years.
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