Michael Phelps Was in Awe Watching Léon Marchand Join Him in Rare Olympic Achievement

Madison Williams | Aug 2, 2024

Jul 28, 2024; Nanterre, France; Michael Phelps waves to the crowd ahead of the night round of competition during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Paris La Défense Arena. / Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Sports

French swimmer Leon Marchand placed his name next to Michael Phelps in the history books once again on Friday after winning the gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley, and Phelps happened to be in attendance to cheer Marchand on.

Marchand became just the third man to win four individual gold medals at one singular Olympic Games, something Phelps did at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. American swimmer Mark Spitz is the only other man to accomplish this feat.

As Marchand took a big advantage ahead of his competition during the breaststroke portion of the medley, Phelps could be seen on the edge of his seat watching the Frenchman. Then he stood up and cheered for him while Marchand became the gold medal winner. It was sort of a passing of the torch moment between the two swimming legends.

Michael Phelps' reaction to León Marchand's fourth gold medal of the Paris games 😅 pic.twitter.com/EoYzchyczI

— ESPN (@espn) August 2, 2024

This isn't the first time during the Paris Olympics in which Phelps has outwardly cheered Marchand on. When Phelps was in the NBC booth with Mike Tirico on Wednesday, he went wild when Marchand won the 200-meter butterfly. Marchand broke the Olympic record with this win, which was previously held by Phelps.

Michael Phelps - watching the man, Leon Marchand - who is breaking most of his records.

Interesting to compare this, to the reaction of how 99 percent of WNBA players and coaches have treated Caitlin Clark this year 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ciesXOcsr1

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) August 1, 2024

The two swimmers also share a coach, Bob Bowman.