Among the two French athletes who will carry the French flag during the opening ceremony of the upcoming Olympic Games, Leon Marchand could be one of them. On March 13th, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee announced the criteria for candidates to apply as flag bearers for the French delegation.
One of the requirements is to have been an Olympian at least once. Marchand fits this criterion as he participated in the last edition in Tokyo, where he competed in the 400 meters individual medley final, finishing sixth.
Another condition is that the future flag bearers have never held this role before. This rule eliminates many prominent names from the list of potential candidates. Olympic judo medalist Teddy Riner and female judoka Clarisse Agbégnénou are among those who cannot apply due to their previous Olympic roles.
The flag bearers must embody Olympic values to avoid controversy, as stated by French Olympic leader David Lappartient. This means athletes like Nikola Karabatic and Luka, currently involved in a sports betting scandal, are unlikely to be selected.
With spaces opening up for new flag bearers, the competition narrows down. Among the contenders, swimmer Leon Marchand and a highly decorated swimmer, Florent Manaudou, stand out. Manaudou has expressed his hope to be chosen as the flag bearer.
Marchand, at 21 years old, represents the youth of French sports. His recent achievements, including breaking the 400 meters individual medley world record previously held by Michael Phelps, make him a strong candidate for the flag bearer role. With his exceptional talent in various swimming disciplines, he has the potential to be a major medal contributor for France at the Paris Olympics.
Marchand comes from a family with Olympic history, adding an identity factor to his candidacy. His father, uncle, and mother have all competed in the Olympics, creating a strong connection to the Olympic legacy in France.
The official announcement of the flag bearers will be made around mid-July. In the meantime, Marchand continues his training and preparation for the upcoming competitions in the USA and France.
