Where did Leon Marchand go to college? Explaining French swimmer's journey from Arizona State to Olympics

Bryan Murphy

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Where did Leon Marchand go to college? Explaining French swimmer's journey from Arizona State to Olympics image

For those tuning into the 2024 Olympics, the name Leon Marchand is becoming a popular one. The French swimmer is making a case for the breakout star in Paris, dominating the pool in his home country. 

However, for those fans of the NCAA swimming scene, Marchand's excellence shouldn't come as a surprise. 

While Marchand is representing France at the 2024 Olympics, he has spent the last three years in the United States where he is attending college. The Frenchman just finished up his junior season in the NCAA, where his dominance in the college world has translated right onto the Olympic stage. 

Marchand's dazzling performances in the pool have garnered much-deserved attention, including making a fan out of USA swimming great Michael Phelps. 

Where did Marchand go to college? Here is more on his school and his NCAA career. 

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Where did Leon Marchand go to college? 

Marchand just finished his junior year at Arizona State University. He is a member of the Sun Devils' swim and dive team. 

The Frenchman is dominating at the Olympic level — so you can imagine what he has done in the NCAA. Marchand has been terrorizing college swimming for the last three years, racking up a number of records, wins and awards. He won the CSCAA Division I Men's Swimmer of the Year and Pac-12 Men's Swimmer of the Year each of the last three seasons. 

At the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming Championships this spring, Marchand was all over the podium. He won five gold medals, including three individual, and added two silvers to his remarkable resume, helping Arizona State to the program's first NCAA title. Marchand won the 200 breast, 400 IM, 500 free, 400 medley relay and 400 free relay. 

As a sophomore, Marchand helped the Sun Devils take finish at the NCAA Championships. He placed first in the 200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM, setting NCAA records in each. Marchand finished second in the 200 medley relay and 800 free relay, and then third in the 400 medley relay and 400 free relay. 

In Marchand's freshman season, he helped the Sun Devils to a 6th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Sun Devils star won the 200 IM and 200 breast, while finishing second in the 400 IM and 400 free relay. 

NCAA Championships medal table
YearGoldSilverBronze
2022220
2023322
2024520

Where is Leon Marchand from?

Marchand was born in Toulouse, France.

MORE: Tracking Leon Marchand's medal pace and comparing to Michael Phelps

He is the son of French swimmers Xavier Marchand and Celine Bonnet. His father is a former medley swimmer while his mother was a backstroke and medley competitor. 

How old is Leon Marchand?

Marchand was born on May 17, 2002. That means he is 22 years old while he competes at the 2024 Olympics. 

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.