Leon Marchand Snubs Lea Salame’s ‘Quels Jeux’ Sports Show

Leon Marchand, the 22 year-old swimming champion who made Team France proud with four gold medals and one silver at the Paris Olympics, ranks as one of the games’ biggest breakout athletes.

After wrapping up his last competition on Monday, Marchand, who is originally from Toulouse, in Southern France, and travelled to Paris with his parents and brother, embarked on a wall-to-wall media tour marathon but reportedly snubbed one of the Olympics’ most popular talk shows, “Quels Jeux,” which is hosted by prominent journalist Lea Salamé and airs on broadcaster France Televisions.

According to Le Parisien newspaper, it is because Salamé’s show “doesn’t fit his values,” although they didn’t expand on why that might be.

Still, the snub has been the talk of France’s Olympics-mad media. “Quels Jeux” has been criticized for being too celebrity-heavy at the expense of the actual sports, simply offering a platform for self-promotion. And Salamé, whose beat is usually politics, has also been dismissed for not having enough sporting experience to host a show ostensibly focused on the Olympic Games.

That didn’t stop Marchand from being greeted like a hero on Monday night, when he visited Club France, the Olympics’ largest fan zone which brings together a daily average of 40,000 people and winning French athletes. The frenzied crowd that erupted into loud cheers and chants of “Leon President” as soon as the Olympic champ walked on stage.

While he’s not seeking a career in politics, Marchand also counts French President Emmanuel Macron among his most fervent fans. Macron was seen jumping for joy at the Paris La Defense Arena when Marchand won his fourth gold medal on Aug. 2. The French President, who saw his popularity collapse after dissolving the French National Assembly and calling snap elections shortly before the start of the Olympics, later posted a picture of him shaking Marchand’s hand on X with a message saying “Impossible isn’t French! Four GOLD medals at home and a new Olympic record, it’s historic. It’s Leon Marchand.

Marchand, who relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, three years ago, looked like a fish out of the water as he stepped under the spotlight. Speaking to hysterical fans at Club France on Monday, the athlete said, “I don’t have much to say. Guys, you were monstrous. Really. It was huge to see you in the stands. You are making the Games magical. So thank you all, truly.”

Macron does owe Marchand a great deal. The champion has largely contributed to making these Olympics a success, and switching French people’s mood — from gloomy to euphoric — in less than 10 days. He’s also helped France reach its historic record of 48 medals so far, placing the country in the third slot behind the U.S. and China. 

In an interview with France Televisions‘ host Anne-Sophie Lapix, said “due to (his) education,” he is “humble.” “My parents are here to remind it to me. I’m keeping my feet on the ground. I also have studies on the side,” said Marchand, who is studying computer science at the Arizona State University.

Addressing his sudden fame, he told Lapix that “It’s a big change for sure. I’m quite reserved. I prefer being at home with my parents rather than being on stage in front of 15,000 people.”

“It’s not easy for me after nine days of intense competition. I realize my new status. (…) Being in front of 15,000 is not really my comfort zone. (…) And for a photo shoot I had to wear the five medals around the neck; it’s heavy!” he said with a smile, adding that seeing supporters “up close” during the competition was “a great moment.”

Nicknamed “the dolphin” by his French supporters, Marchand moved to Arizona to train with Bob Bowman, the coach of 23-time Olympic gold medalist American swimmer Michael Phelps. He told Lapix that he prepared these Olympic Games for five years. “This week is rewarding. It’s a lot of work.” In an interview with AFP (picked up by Le Figaro) in February, Marchand revealed he shared a house with four other swimmers about 10 minutes away from campus and woke up every day at 5 am to train starting at 6 am.