Nanterre, France: Leon Marchand's celebration spread beyond the pool and quickly spread across Paris.
At the Stade de France, host to the first night of the track and field, there was a standing ovation as Marchand won his fourth Olympic gold medal. The roar was so loud that the first heat of the 400m decathlon was postponed.
At the home of the French Olympics, nearly 20,000 people, including 19-year-old Arthur Ursel, gathered outside to watch Marchand perform his best in the pool.
“He's a hero,” Orsell said. “He's our hero.”
As French President Emmanuel Macron was cheered on by more than 15,000 fans at the rugby-turned-stadium, Marchand claimed another victory in the 200m individual medley on Friday night.
“I don't think there will be any problems this week,” Marchand said. “It was just great.”
The 22-year-old French phenomenon has left no doubt that he is regarded as one of the biggest stars of the summer games in his country. He finished in an Olympic record time of 1 minute, 54.06 seconds, just missing Ryan Lochte's 13-year-old world record.
That was about the only thing she didn't do in six magical days at Laudfence Arena, having already won the 400 IM, 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke — the last two about two hours apart in the same meet.
Marchand became only the fourth swimmer in Olympic history to win four individual golds in one Games.
Others? Michael Phelps who did it in 2004 and 2008. Mark Spitz in 1972; and East Germany's Christian Otto in 1988.
In fact, the main company
“It's crazy. These guys are legends,” Marchand said. “I don't think I've figured it out yet. Maybe I will in a few days.”
Silver went to Britain's Duncan Scott with a body back in 1:55.31. China's Wang Shun took bronze in 1:56.00, edging out American Carson Foster to make the podium.
What a night for France
A packed house had come to La Defense Arena to cheer on their favorite boy once again. They chanted, sang “Sweet Caroline,” waved the French tricolor, and unfurled a large tifo on the upper deck.
After Marchand touched the wall, he held up four fingers – one for each gold. He climbed out of the pool, pumped his fists, then held out his hands as if to say, “What else do you want?”
It is not a thing.
He had done all this, more than living up to the expectations of his nation and the comparison with Phelps, who had come here to cheer Marchon. What might have been overwhelming for some athletes seemed to propel Marchand to greater heights.
Macron shook Marchand's hand at Friday's celebration and sent his congratulations on social media.
Impossible is not French! Macron wrote in French. “Four home gold medals and a new Olympic record – historic. That's Leon Marchand.”
Marchand was certainly enjoying his moment, something his American coach Bob Bowman – Phelps' coach, in a fitting call – had encouraged him to do.
He led the fans backstage in applause before climbing the steps once more. The crowd erupted into their most rousing rendition of “La Marseillaise” yet – although, of course, they've had plenty of opportunities to work on the French national anthem this week.
The slogans of “Leon! Leon! Leon!” As soon as the anthem was played, it filled the arena. Someone held up a sign that simply read “Merci Leon.”
“I am very proud to be French,” Marchand said.
Australian gold for McEvoy, McKeown
Before Marchand's victory, Cameron McEvoy and Keely McKeon won more golds for Australia.
McEvoy touched first in the 50 freestyle, denying Caleb Dressel a repeat in swimming's craziest event. McKeon won the 200 backstroke, becoming the first female swimmer to sweep the backstroke in two consecutive Summer Games.
Asked if he could have imagined such an achievement, McKeon said: “Not in a million years.”
McEvoy became the first Australian man to win a gold medal at the Games, and McKeon quickly increased his country's total to an Olympic-leading seven golds – three more than the United States and Marchand, who is essentially a country unto himself. .
McKeon noted what an amazing time this is for women's sports as she follows the likes of Simone Biles and Caitlin Clarke in raising the profile of female athletes.
“Not just the Australian girls, but the whole world and women's sport has been unreal this year,” McKeon said. “It's great to be a part of.”
McEvoy crossed the pool in 21.25, beating Great Britain's Benjamin Proud by five hundredths of a second. Florent Manaudeau of France gave the home crowd another thrill by taking the bronze medal in 21.56.
Dressel, who won five gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, was sixth in 21.61.
McKeon rallied again, just as she did in the 100 backstroke, to chase down perennial runner-up USA champion Reagan Smith. The winning time was an Olympic record of 2:03.73, breaking Macy Franklin's 2012 London Games.
Another silver for Reagan Smith
Smith won her fifth career silver in 2:04.26 to go along with the single bronze. He has yet to win gold.
The bronze medal went to Kylie Moss of Canada in 2:05.57.
Smith insisted he was satisfied with the result, even if a gold medal remained out of reach.
If I had got a silver medal and I was a second slower, I think I would have been really disappointed with myself because it wasn't my best performance. “It wasn't something I was capable of doing,” Smith said. This is one of my fastest times. I think I really gave Kaylee a chance and made things very close and exciting. So I'm excited about it.”
Dressel comes up short
The American star qualified in two individual events and will not medal in either of them.
Shortly after finishing sixth in the 50 free, she returned to the pool for the semifinals of the 100 butterfly—another event she won in Tokyo.
Dressel was unable to complete the grueling double and managed only the 13th fastest time to miss out on Saturday night's final.
For the eighth gold medal of his career, he anchored the USA to gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay.
It was a disappointing showing for one of the biggest stars of the Tokyo Games, but not so unexpected given what he's been through.
A year after the 2021 Olympics, which were postponed due to the pandemic, Dressel left the swimming world championships in the middle.
He badly needed a break to catch up on his love of swimming, which is still a bit of a work in progress. Dressel looks much happier now and welcomed her first child about five months ago, but she hasn't regained the blazing speed of three years ago.
“Obviously not my best,” Dressel said. “I had a lot of fun but it wasn't my best week. I don't think I need to shy away from it.”
He has one more relay in Paris to give him another shot at a ninth career gold.
Dressel wants to go out on a high note because the games have been “a little bit of a bummer, a little bit of a bummer for sure.”
After leaving the pool deck, she burst into tears.
