Léon Marchand renounces the European swimming championships in Rome

Fresh out of the world championships in Budapest, which ended on Saturday, with two gold medals (200 and 400 m medley) and a silver (200 m butterfly), named best swimmer of the competition, Léon Marchand announced Sunday, in Stage 2, that he was giving up the European Swimming Championship (August 11 to 21, in Rome). Coached by Bob Bowman since last summer, new European record holder in the 400m medley, the Frenchman would have advanced there with strong ambitions but the decision was taken on Saturday “because the start of the new academic year is at the same time, and it’s been two and a half years since I took a break”. The French swimmer clarified: “I will train in France with Nicolas Castel (his co-trainer) for three to four weeks and I will take a break. I think I have fulfilled my objectives for this year, I have been working very hard for two years and I know that in my development I need to come back fresher. »