STILL A LOT TO DO, SAYS EXCITED MARCHAND

French sensation aims for personal bests in Singapore and world marks in next few years

- David Lee

Used to delivering lights-out performances on the biggest stage, nothing really fazes four-gold Olympic champion Leon Marchand.

The lights did go out briefly during the press conference for the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) at the WCH Arena on July 26, but he hardly batted an eyelid as he fielded a question about what motivates him these days after becoming a swimming sensation at Paris 2024.

He said: "I'm excited for worlds, I want PBs (personal bests) in every single one of my races. Of course, I want to break world records in the next few years.

"I don't know when that's going to happen, but I still have a lot to do in the swimming world."

In a star-studded press conference boasting the likes of world and Olympic champions in Hubert Kos (Hungary), Australia's Cameron McEvoy and Lani Pallister, there was little doubt that Marchand is still the man of the hour.

With the first three questions lobbed at the 23-year-old Frenchman, even the moderator had to step in to gently ban queries for him for five minutes.