Léon Marchand

SWIMMING

As part of the partnership between LVMH and Paris 2024, LVMH is proud to support swimmer Léon Marchand who, at the age of 21, is among the leading medal hopes for the French Olympic team.

Léon Marchand putting his diving goggles over his eyes

Five-time world champion and now the new record-holder in the 400-meter individual medley, Léon Marchand has, beyond his athletic skills, captured a global audience through his passion, determination and talent.

Léon Marchand will represent Louis Vuitton as Ambassador for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Inspired by the same spirit of perseverance and excellence that defines Louis Vuitton, he continually sets the bar ever higher in his discipline. LVMH and Louis Vuitton are delighted to welcome Léon Marchand as Ambassador and Artisan of All Victories. This partnership builds on the active support that LVMH and its Maisons have for many years provided for high-level sports and the most prestigious international competitions. From the creation of numerous trophies to trunks designed specially to hold them, LVMH Maisons have long been partners to the world of sports, spanning a wide variety of disciplines, including tennis, rugby, basketball, football and automobile racing.

History

SWIMMING

The origins of swimming date back to prehistoric times, but it wasn't until the 19th century that the sport took on a competitive aspect. The British National Swimming Society was founded at the beginning of that century to organize the first competitions, initially focusing on breaststroke or similar strokes. Over time, these competitions diversified to encompass a multitude of disciplines, now on the program for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games take place in a 50m pool. Four swimming strokes are practiced in competition, either individually or in relays: breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke and freestyle, the latter performed using the crawl technique. A fifth event, the medley race, combines these four styles, requiring swimmers to string together different techniques. Distances also vary, requiring different skills depending on whether the race is 50m or 1500m. Swimmers must combine explosiveness, endurance, power and technique to succeed.