‘Exhausted’ Leon Marchand withdraws from 2024 short-course world swimming championships

French swimming star Leon Marchand is ready to put his 2024 season in the books.

The four-time Olympic champion announced via an Instagram story that he will not compete in the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest, scheduled for December 10–15.

“2024 was really intense. I’ve done a lot of big competitions, and I’m exhausted,” he wrote.

“It’s time for me to step back, train hard, and start preparing (for) future challenges. I know you will understand, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

Marchand was one of France’s poster boys during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he claimed five medals, including four individual golds in the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, and 400m individual medley. He also excelled at World Cup meets in Incheon, Republic of Korea, and Singapore, winning multiple events and setting a new 200m IM record.

The 22-year-old, who has remained in France since the end of the Games to train with Nicolas Castel, is among the Olympic gold medalists skipping the Worlds, along with Italians Niccolò Martinenghi and Thomas Ceccon, and Australian Kaylee McKeown.