How Léon Marchand Swims So Fast | IM Stroke Analysis

Léon Marchand is the fastest swimmer in the world right now. After breaking Michael Phelps’ long-standing 400-meter IM world record, Léon is on his way to becoming a household name in swimming, and winning a few medals at Paris 2024.
An individual medley specialist, Léon is a master of all four competitive strokes. Let’s take a look at how Léon swims each stroke so you too can improve your technique and swim stronger!
📲 Download the MySwimPro App: apple.co/3vwznLH
💻 MySwimPro Website: myswimpro.com/coach
🏊‍♀️ Train with Fares and the MySwimPro team: bit.ly/3SbmGPh
💨 Improve your breath control with ‪@Airofit‬ - the official breathing partner of MySwimPro! Get 15% off the Airofit Breathing Trainer and increase your accessible lung capacity ONLY at this link: www.airofit.com/myswimpro
🤓 Read the blog: bit.ly/3YTphiD
🏅 VIP Facebook Group: bit.ly/2UySQVB
🚀 7-Day Guide To Swim Faster: bit.ly/3rNcNri
📚 Swim Like A Pro Book: amzn.to/3lctslN
👕 Get MySwimPro Merch: teespring.com/stores/myswimpro
🏊‍♀️ Shop Swim Gear: www.amazon.com/shop/myswimpro
Join the Community:
📸 Instagram: / myswimpro
🎥 Facebook: / myswimpro
🐦 Twitter: / myswimpro
🍭 TikTok: / myswimpro
🌎 Subscribe to MySwimPro! bit.ly/3qDuW9v
About Coach Fares:
Fares Ksebati is the Co-Founder and CEO of MySwimPro. He is a 3x Individual U.S. Masters Swimming National Champion and Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimmer. Fares is an American Swim Coaches Association Fellow and certified USA Triathlon coach. He is the author of Swim Like A Pro and loves helping swimmers reach their full potential. Follow him on social media @FaresKsebati! Contact for business inquiries: [e-mail]

[@FaresKsebati]

💨 Improve your breath control with Airofit - the official breathing partner of MySwimPro! Get 15% off the Airofit Breathing Trainer and increase your accessible lung capacity ONLY at this link: www.airofit.com/myswimpro

[@kelvinnuel3327]

The race was won in the breaststroke and the record was shattered underwater...

[@yihongli5805]

Really?

[@juicecan]

bro its the opposite the race was won with the underwater the record was shattered with the breaststroke

[@thelukos]

Naa, Phelps was also great underwater. Marchant just has a superior breaststroke

[@Pegasus_p12]

Leon also has a ridicules freestyle 1:28 200 free, 40.2 100 free, and 4.02 500 free.

[@solareiusdeiu]

French are technical i remember how Kevin Mayer broke the Decathlon world record because of his technical events, people felt the record was impossible because of the most explosive events like the 100m sprint, and the longjump etc. But if overall you are more technical and complete, you can break even incredible world records. Leon MARCHAND is the Kevin Mayer of SWIMMING for sure. both French guys, both insane technical balance between all events. this made the difference. NOW if Leon bring both the extra physiological and his incredible technique together, he can be the first under 4min 400 IM for sure. and considering his age, pushing even more the record to 3min58 / 3min56 this seems unheard of, but technically possible for him in his career...

[@northsta]

Best swimmer = the WR holder in 400m IM LC. I like this definition, really👍

[@patricelargilliere4583]

Please explain how another Frenchmen has the decathlon world record. It can't be the camembert😅.

[@vondenballs]

Maybe the claw is to relieve pressure on the shoulder until it is in optimal position to apply force.

[@HandsomeRabbit8]

We see numerous male athletes doing this in multiple world events. It shouldn't be discredited right away.

[@anderssanggaard6215]

I wonder if the narrow entry on backstroke is actually intentional. I suppose since he has a much lower stroke-rate in the 400 im than you would in a 100 or 200 backstroke it creates a glide phase. He almost presses his bicep into his head and i suppose this does reduce a bit of drag for a short time and if you have the core strength to not worsen your body position, perhaps this could result in him saving a bit of energy in exchange for not really pushing it that hard in the backstroke leg.

[@PAMOJA4LIFE]

WOW Amazing analysis

[@anderssanggaard6215]

I could be wrong, but i remember michael andrew working on minimizing the drag on his shoulders/neck muscles by moving the arm closer to his head so i guess it could apply in backstroke aswell.

[@Rory626]

Looking like we may have a new GOAT after the Paris Olympics. Cant wait to find out 😊

[@Kassiusday]

GOAT ? But how many races Phelps used to win ? during Olympics ?🎉

[@yihongli5805]

I love your humor

[@TraditionalToolworks]

One thing to note on the "claw" is if you look at both the left and right it seems it has the wrist bent, keeping the claw straight. As if he locks in the claw when he grabs water. It's like a shovel. Unlike the vertical arm, the shovel is on the end of the arm...it's a smaller shovel, but accelerates the body faster possibly. See 11:56

[@Brookethenomad]

Can’t wait til Paris!

[@FaresKsebati]

You and me both! There's going to be some epic swims!

[@tomasquindt5702]

Excellent video Fares. Thanks. Why don’t you analyze Qin 200 breast? It is also amazing!

[@FaresKsebati]

Thanks for tuning in! Great suggestion!

[@yihongli5805]

@@FaresKsebatiyes, fares, qin is really good at 200 breaststroke

[@yihongli5805]

@FaresKsebati What were Leon and Phelps splits?

[@yihongli5805]

Once you see the claw, you cannot unsee it… 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@hudsonbakke8836]

I personally take great encouragement and inspiration from analyzing how Marchand swims. Even though I'm nowhere even close to being as good as him, watching him swim gives me encouragement because of the things we do similarly. I may be way slower right now, but I know from watching him that I have the potential to get there. To give one example, my short course 200 breast is about 27 seconds slower than Marchand's, which to most people would be discouraging, however I look at what me and Marchand have in common. We take the same number of strokes, for instance. 5 per length. We both go to halfway on every pullout. We both spend about the same amount of time in our pullouts. This is extremely encouraging to me because I know I'm already doing so many things correctly, and if I work on the things that I do poorly, I absolutely can go 1:46 in the 200 breast, or 4:02 in the long course 400 IM.

[@yihongli5805]

Hope Leon sees this lol😂😂

[@mindywolfrom2898]

I’m confused- you mentioned in his butterfly that his body is riding high, and how we want our body riding out of the water during butterfly to go faster… but don’t we travel faster when our body is in the water more instead of swimming breaking the surface of the water?

[@ham_ham279]

So it’s really the hips that are focused on the most in butterfly. Yes you’ll want your chest pressed down in the water for decreased resistance, but it will also cause your hips to rise which is what drives a very strong kick. If you submerge your whole body in between breaths, that will tire you out much quicker.

[@davidmac27]

In the first few minutes of the video showing his butterfly - is it me or are his feet coming apart during the kick? Isn't this a no no? I'd be worried with all the emphasis on underwater cameras at big swim meets.

[@gir1y17]

I noticed that too! Knees were separated! From what I know its supposed to be 👎🏻 But no mention of it!

[@andreizelchenko934]

800× 👍

[@nancytripp2024]

Swimming is a mental test as well.

[@Nsurob]

He's swimming out of his lane at 439...DQ

[@nancytripp2024]

He is very positively childlike, no fear and just play..

[@willaimhl814]

First? Comment and like?

[@willaimhl814]

E

[@ChristiaanNel-vj6id]

Michel Phelps still the goat

[@vanjamilic5781]

firstt

[@yihongli5805]

Gg Phelps Leon is better