Léon Marchand is cautious about politics: "I would prefer to stay away from all that."

Léon Marchand is hesitant to rush into the political arena. A guest on France 2's 20 p.m. news program Sunday evening, the 24-year-old French swimmer was asked about the responsibility that comes with his immense popularity and the possibility of publicly taking a stance on political or social issues in the future. Unlike other prominent figures in French sport, the four-time Olympic champion prefers to proceed cautiously for the time being. He does, however, acknowledge that his influence could one day lead him to play a role that extends far beyond the swimming pool.

"I would prefer to stay away from all of this."

The question has become almost unavoidable for French athletes whose fame extends far beyond their sport. Facing Sonia Chironi on France 2, Léon Marchand didn't shy away from it, but neither did he immediately want to assume the mantle of an activist athlete. "I'd prefer to stay away from all that ," the swimmer admitted. This reserve doesn't mean he considers champions completely detached from public debate. Marchand is aware of the power of their voices, particularly with younger generations, and believes that athletes with very high profile could play a "decisive role" in the future thanks to their influence. At 24, the Toulouse native is gradually coming to terms with the weight he's gained since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. His four Olympic titles have propelled him to a new level and transformed a great swimming champion into one of the most recognizable French sports figures among the general public. It's an exposure he's still trying to manage.

Marchand doesn't want to talk about subjects he doesn't understand.

The Frenchman primarily explains his caution as stemming from a question of legitimacy. Having millions of people listening to his statements doesn't seem sufficient to him to speak publicly on every subject. "I don't want to say just anything ," he explains, adding that he "doesn't feel legitimate" at this stage. Léon Marchand isn't definitively closing the door to future public pronouncements. Rather, he indicates that he wants to work on these issues before speaking out. This is a way of acknowledging that his new status gives him a particular influence while refusing, for the moment, to transform his sporting celebrity into a political platform. This attitude also reflects the public persona he has strived to maintain since his media explosion. In the mini-series dedicated to his daily life , Léon Marchand already recounted the difficulties caused by the abrupt change in status after the Paris Games and his need to find a more balanced life.

Mbappé and Wembanyama have chosen a different path

The question posed to Léon Marchand takes on a particular significance given the public stances taken by other French stars of his generation. Kylian Mbappé and Victor Wembanyama have already chosen to speak out on several political and social issues. During the snap parliamentary elections of 2024, Kylian Mbappé urged young people to vote and publicly expressed his concern about the rise of extremism. Victor Wembanyama also called for distancing himself from it. More recently, the French basketball player reiterated his desire to voice his opinion, even if it might be unpopular. Marchand is currently adopting a different position. He is not criticizing his compatriots' activism, nor is he claiming absolute neutrality. He simply explains that he is not yet ready to speak publicly on subjects he feels he doesn't fully understand.

An influence that has become considerable since Paris 2024

This questioning surrounding his public pronouncements would have been difficult to imagine before the summer of 2024. The Paris Games completely transformed Léon Marchand's place in French sport. The swimmer won four individual gold medals in the 400m individual medley, 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke, and 200m individual medley, becoming one of France's greatest heroes of the Games . Two years later, his status remains untarnished. Despite a training period disrupted by an adductor injury, he recently triumphed at the European Championships in Saint-Denis. After his title in the 200m butterfly, he also won the 400m freestyle with a French record , a distance in which he was not previously expected to compete at the highest international level. His sporting achievements have thus further enhanced his visibility and his ability to reach an audience that extends far beyond swimming enthusiasts.

After the Olympics, the need to protect one's privacy

On France 2, Léon Marchand also reflected on the upheaval caused by the Paris Games. After the media frenzy of the summer of 2024, he felt the need to further separate his public persona from his personal life. His return to Austin, Texas, where he spent many years building his sporting career far from the hustle and bustle of France, allowed him to regain a sense of calm. This desire to maintain a boundary also explains his caution when questioned on topics beyond sports. Marchand now knows that every statement he makes can be seized upon, analyzed, and sometimes transformed into a political stance. He therefore doesn't speak simply because his position allows him to be heard.

No political commitment for now, but the door is left open.

Léon Marchand presents himself neither as a completely apolitical athlete nor as a future voice in the public debate. His position is more measured: he acknowledges the power wielded by the most popular champions, but believes that such influence also requires knowing what one is talking about before speaking. With the 2027 presidential election just a few months away, his words will inevitably be closely watched if French athletes are once again asked about the country's political situation. For now, Léon Marchand remains within his area of ​​expertise. But contrary to a categorical refusal to take any position, his response on France 2 leaves open the possibility: that of a champion who could one day speak out more, provided he feels sufficiently informed and legitimate to do so.