Leon Marchand: France's Golden Swimmer Making Waves at Paris 2024

Leon Marchand's success at the Paris 2024 Olympics has significantly boosted his fame and benefited sponsors like LVMH and Omega. The 22-year-old swimmer has won three gold medals so far and has become a national hero in France. His rising stardom has also created opportunities for brands like Speedo and Le Coq Sportif.

Leon Marchand's golden Olympic exploits have catapulted the French swimmer to a new level of fame, benefiting his sponsors and creating potential openings for other brands.

As sponsor and official timekeeper of the Paris 2024 Olympics, LVMH and Omega have already garnered global attention. Marchand, an ambassador for both Omega and LVMH's Louis Vuitton, has brought these brands unprecedented exposure as his popularity soars through family living rooms, bars, and fan zones. 'Sometimes, lightning strikes in a bottle, and it did for them,' says Terrence Burns, Olympics sponsorship expert and CEO of the T. Burns Sports Group.

The 22-year-old Marchand has won three gold medals at the Games and is vying for two more, becoming the French face of the Olympics and captivating a home crowd. Social media mentions of Marchand surged to over 200,000 on Wednesday, up from just 1,300 four days earlier, according to analytics firm Sprinklr. 'They did the research, they watched him forever,' Burns said of LVMH's signing of the athlete. Omega and Louis Vuitton, both tied to Marchand, have seen significant visibility in the Games, with Omega being the official timekeeper and Vuitton designing trunks for the Olympic flame and medal trays.

Omega signed Marchand a year ago, said CEO Raynald Aeschlimann. 'We were ready to be there,' Aeschlimann remarked, reflecting on the energy when Marchand made history by winning the 200 meters breaststroke and butterfly golds on the same night. 'This is a legend forming—we're going to let him be, but he knows we're here,' he added, showing his Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope with the Paris 2024 flame logo. Marchand has worn a similar model on the podium.

Marchand's rise has also benefited Speedo, which he wears in competition. Although Speedo is not his official sponsor, the brand is open to future collaborations. 'We're always open to exploring opportunities with outstanding athletes,' said Simon Rowe, Senior VP of Global Sports Marketing at Speedo. Out of the pool, Marchand sports the French team's attire by Le Coq Sportif, which declined to comment on any brand impact.

While Marchand has yet to reach the celebrity status of athletes like Simone Biles, he has expressed a desire to remain selective with sponsorships, emphasizing, 'I don't want to be a walking advertisement.'

(With inputs from agencies.)