European Aquatics Championships: Leon Marchand Named in Four Events as Entry Lists Released
Four-time Olympic champion Leon Marchand has been named in four events at the upcoming pool programme at the European Championships despite the spectre of injury having loomed large since he withdrew from the French trials with injury.
Marchand opened his programme at the national championships in Saint-Etienne at the end of June with a 4:04.56 400IM, the fifth-fastest performance in history and fourth among his own pantheon.
However, the Frenchman felt a sharp pain in his right adductor during the 200m breaststroke prelims and eventually withdrew from the competition to undergo treatment.
The 24-year-old, who is coached by Bob Bowman in Texas, has been named in the 400 free, 200 fly and the 200m and 400m individual medley at the pool programme which runs from 10-16 August at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis.
Marchand’s team-mate and fellow world champion Maxime Grousset, who broke a bone in his left foot early in June, is also named to take part in four events – the men’s 50/100 free and 50/100 fly.
Duncan Scott is entered solely in the 200IM in terms of individual events. The Scot has won silver at the last two Olympics in the event.
Triple Olympic champion Sarah Sjöström, who returned to the sport in April this year at the age of 32 after giving birth to son Adrian in August 2025, is named in the women’s 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly.
Marrit Steenbergen lowered the 100 free world record to 51.68 in June, taking down the mark held by Sjöström since the 2017 worlds in Budapest.
The Netherlands swimmer is entered into the 50/100/200 free plus 50/100 back plus relays.
