Olympic champion in the pools, Léon Marchand also reveals his passion for F1.
Léon Marchand, now settled in Austin, revealed that he has developed a true love for cars and F1. He apparently finds in this mechanical world a kind of echo to his own sport. Learn more about the Toulouse swimmer’s passion.
A swimming champion captivated by speed
Behind the swimmer’s calm and concentration hides a thrill-seeker. It was in Australia, during the Melbourne Grand Prix, that Léon Marchand discovered F1 for the first time. And this was made possible thanks to the invitation of his friend Pierre Gasly.
How did Léon Marchand’s love for F1 begin?
That day, under the rain, the Frenchman stepped into a world he did not yet know. Fascinated by the electric atmosphere of the pits and the teams’ discipline, he immediately got hooked. “I caught the bug,” he confides. Since then, he has taken an interest in brands, models, and automotive history. A curiosity born, he says, thanks to the YouTube channel Vilebrequin.
Austin, the cradle of his new passion
The athlete moved to Austin to train at the University of Texas. Léon Marchand thus found the perfect place to live his passion for F1. The American Grand Prix transforms the city every year, and the swimmer loves this atmosphere. “In two days, Austin becomes unrecognizable,” he explains. “This excitement, these fans, these mechanics working on a rocket… it fascinates me.”
F1, a sport that reminds Léon Marchand of swimming
If he loves F1 so much, it’s also because he finds the same demands as in his own sport. I am talking here about precision as well as concentration. But also, the pursuit of the slightest perfect detail.
A mechanics of body and machine
“There is all this precision behind every detail, it reminds me of my sport,” he confides. For him, drivers, like swimmers, must constantly anticipate. They must also repeat their movements and manage their energy over time. “When I see them memorize the track before the race, it’s choreography. I do the same underwater.”
Raw emotions and a love for sound
But what really thrills Léon Marchand is above all the sound of F1 engines. “There is something I love, it’s the sound. Almost more than the speed itself.” Away from the pools, he has already tried driving on a race track. He notably did so at Nogaro, behind the wheel of a Porsche Taycan. “I had a blast,” he says enthusiastically.
The French swimmer also has a soft spot for modern Aston Martins. He nonetheless keeps a fond memory of his Maserati Quattroporte with a Ferrari engine. “A hell of a sound, a pure, elegant line.”
Léon Marchand’s passion for F1 continues to grow
Léon Marchand does not hide his dream, which is to one day get into a single-seater. However, he knows he is not ready to abandon water for asphalt. Nevertheless, F1 inspires him with sincere admiration. “I can’t even imagine what they feel.” And, as in his races, he observes, learns, and progresses, again and again. Because for him, whether it’s a corner or a tight turn in the water, every detail matters.