TEMPE, Ariz. — If there were any doubts who the most dominant swimmer in all of college swimming was, Sun Devil sophomore Léon Marchand surely put those to rest at last week's NCAA Championships.
For his efforts, in which he swept the three individual events he raced in to help the Sun Devils to a program-best runner-up finish, the Toulouse, France, native was named the Men's Swimmer of the Year by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) for the second consecutive season.
Marchand won the 200 IM (1:36.34) , 200 breast (1:46.91) and 400 IM (3:28.82), setting new NCAA records in each event. His five career NCAA titles are the most in Sun Devil team history, breaking a tie with diver Joona Puhakka (4).
He was also one of 14 Sun Devil Men to earn All-American honors at the NCAA Championships, after taking First-Team honors in seven events.
Men's All-Americans in 2022-23 | Women's All-Americans in 2022-23
Marchand demonstrated his extraordinary versatility all season long, setting school records in the 500 free, 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM. He's posted the school's second-fastest times in the 100 free, 100 back and 200 fly and has been a member of four relays that set program records this season alone (400 free relay, 800 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay).
He was largely in a league of his own all season, winning all of the 27 individual events he raced in dating back to the season opener against Georgia in late September. He became the first Division I NCAA champion swimmer to have an undefeated season since Cal's Natalie Coughlin in 2002-03, per SwimSwam.
At the Pac-12 Championships in early March, he won the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and 800 free relay to help the Sun Devils capture the first conference championship in program history. Now a perfect 6-for-6 in individual events at Pac-12s, he was named the Swimmer of the Meet for the second straight year.
The legend of Marchand seemingly grows each time he steps on the blocks, as he was the storyline from an action-packed NCAA Men's Championships.
Leon Marchand's stats from NCAAs look like they're from a video game...
— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) March 26, 2023
50 BR - 22.27 (#1 SPLIT)
100 BR - 49.23 (#1 SPLIT)
200 BR - 1:46.91 (NCAA RECORD)
100 FR - 40.55 (SPLIT)
200 FR - 1:28.42 (#1 SPLIT)
200 IM - 1:36.34 (NCAA RECORD)
400 IM - 3:28.82 (NCAA RECORD) pic.twitter.com/SZHPKkJnOZ
ENCORE UN INCROYABLE CHRONO ET RECORD POUR LÉON MARCHAND
— MR.CARTER (@NelsonCarterJr) March 26, 2023
1:46.91, PREMIER HOMME SOUS LES 1:47 AU 200Y BRASSE ???? !!! pic.twitter.com/HQgwUEtJ7K
Comment commencer la semaine autrement qu'en rendant honneur à @leon_marchand pour ses exploits hors-normes accomplis ce week-end à Minneapolis ???? https://t.co/FjBkvKTvGf
— FFN (@FFNatation) March 27, 2023
Meilleur exemple de #mondaymotivation????
Bravo Léon ! On attend ton retour avec impatience ????
?? @swimswamnews pic.twitter.com/7dP4eGWFCS
Arizona State's Léon Marchand might be the most versatile swimmer in the world—and he proved it at the NCAA Championships https://t.co/tRDCvEvRHI
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 26, 2023
Best men's individual NCAA weekends I've seen (2004 - pres.)
— Andy Ross (@andy_ross4) March 26, 2023
1a. Leon Marchand 2023
1b. Caeleb Dressel 2018
3. Ryan Lochte 2006
4. Kevin Cordes 2013
5. Cesar Cielo 2008
HM: Ian Crocker 2004
Making ?????????????? ??@leon_marchand's 50 breast split of 22.27 is the fastest time in NCAA history!#BackThePac | @ASUSwimDive pic.twitter.com/OXMo3axguQ
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) March 22, 2023
Death
— Brad Denny (@BDenny29) March 25, 2023
Taxes
Léon Marchand setting a new ASU/NCAA record & winning a national title https://t.co/Je4KwmxwUW
Finally got around to watching @ASUSwimDive's Leon Marchand massacre of the NCAA 400 IM record. Speechless. https://t.co/hdPGkLuhuq
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 25, 2023
Marchand has quickly emerged as one of the most prolific Sun Devils ever. His collegiate career at a glance:
- 2x CSCAA Division I Men's Swimmer of the Year (2022, 2023)
- 2022 Pac-12 Men's Swimmer and Freshman of the Year
- 5x NCAA Champion
- 2022 (200 IM, 200 breast)
- 2023 (200 IM, 200 breast, 400 IM
- 10x Pac-12 Champion
- 2022 (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast and 800 free relay)
- 2023 (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 800 free relay)
- 2x Pac-12 Championship Swimmer of the Meet (2022, 2023)
- 14x CSCAA All-American
- 2022 (200 breast, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 400 medley relay, 800 free relay)
- 2023 (200 Breast, 200 IM, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay, 400 IM, 400 Medley Relay, 800 Free Relay)
Marchand's Place in Sun Devil Men's History | Sun Devil Men's National Champions