For Léon Marchand, who on Wednesday won a second title at the Fukuoka World Swimming Championships in the 200m butterfly, his week of competition in Japan is “good preparation” for the Paris Olympics in a year, where he knows he is very expected.
Q: Between the 200m butterfly final and the 200m medley semi-finals, you had a busy night, did you have a good time?
A: “That was so good! There aren’t often afternoons like this. I train every day for it and I really enjoyed it, it was cool. The 200 pap’ was brilliant, I was in my swim from the start, I took full advantage, I pushed the flows each time. In the 100m, I see that I am in front, suddenly I really take advantage and I push the last 50. It was too good.
Q: You had to go very fast after your gold medal, did you manage to savor this title?
A: “I was savoring in my head. I didn’t necessarily show it but I had to move on to something else fairly quickly. And then I had no more legs, no more arms so it wasn’t easy. I especially enjoyed on the podium because I had finished my afternoon, so it was cool.
Q: What was the hardest thing to deal with?
A: “The most complicated was before because we ask ourselves a few questions. We wonder if it will do between the two races, if everything will go well. But with the staff, it went really well. They really helped me, I was very well accompanied and we had calibrated everything minute by minute.
Q: How do you feel after this intense day?
A: “That’s fine, I’m super happy. Tomorrow (Thursday), I will be able to rest, do a big 200m medley. I’m pretty happy with my afternoon and I’m not too tired.”
Q: Does that mean you’re not going to swim the 200m breaststroke on Thursday?
A: “No, I’m not doing the 200m breaststroke. I’m going to rest, I’m a bit sleep deprived and I think I can do a good time in the 200m medley so I’m going to focus on that. (My coaches) did not impose it on me. We spoke with Nico Castel and Bob (Bowman) and I think it’s the best choice to make. I would have only had ten minutes between the two races so it is not reasonable for me to do it.
Q: Did you realize you won that gold medal 365 days right before the Paris Games?
A: “I haven’t thought about it but on the other hand, it’s a nice preparation. What I’m doing at the moment is great for managing pressure, how to swim faster in finals in the evening and how I have fun. I have a lot of fun swimming and I think it will be the same in a year.”
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