Léon Marchand Is Right to Snub French Chat Show: A Fish Out of Water

Did Léon Marchand deliver a humiliating snub to Quels Jeux!? Let’s delve into the story that has scandalised the whole of France, if by “scandalised” you mean “mildly diverted” and by “whole” you mean the sort of people who frequent the gossip columns of downmarket newspapers and like to make snap judgments about people they’ve never met.

Quels Jeux!, the live late-night chatshow on France 2, has been one of the television successes of the Games, drawing audiences of up to three million in its late-night slot. Filmed at the Club France headquarters in La Villette, the show has hosted a steady stream of medal-winning French athletes who answer lighthearted and sometimes embarrassingly personal questions in front of an enthusiastic, and probably tipsy, studio audience.

But not Marchand. Despite being perhaps the most famous man in France right now, with four gold medals and adoration from the nation, the swimmer has so far declined to appear on the show. According to Le Parisien, the show “does not correspond to his values.” Marchand is described as a “reserved” person who prefers interviews focused on sport and conducted off-set.

This is the peak of Marchand’s sporting career, a two-week period that will define his life. No future opportunity will see him this famous or in demand. This would be the perfect time to capitalize on his sudden fame—with potential for television appearances, commercial endorsements, social media stardom, a memoir, or a charitable foundation.

Former Olympians often advise their successors to “enjoy the moment,” a veiled suggestion to take advantage of every opportunity. Yet, in an off-set interview, Marchand mentioned he is “trying to remain rare in terms of partnerships” and does not want to become “a walking advertisement.”

After winning his fourth gold medal, Marchand admitted he would need some time to “get his feet back on the ground.” Despite his newfound fame, he remains a quiet person from Toulouse who never craved public attention. His life is centered around swimming, flying planes, playing video games, and studying in Arizona. Clearly, he wants solitude.

This highlights the paradox of Olympic fame: it shines intensely and suddenly, propelling ordinary people into extraordinary situations. The same fame that offers them the world also pressures them immensely.

For instance, after winning a bronze medal in judo, Romane Dicko was consoled by Emmanuel Macron on live television. He wiped her tears, creating a scene that left her “a little embarrassed,” an emotion she will likely relive until she retires.

For seasoned athletes like Antoine Dupont, Victor Wembanyama, or judoka Teddy Riner, Olympic mania is an extension of their already familiar fame. But what about the overnight stars, such as 17-year-old table tennis player Félix Lebrun, who captured the nation’s heart by winning a bronze medal? What happens to numerous medallists from lesser-known sports once the spotlight moves on? How do they revert to anonymity after such intense limelight?

After the London Olympics, many decorated athletes found themselves famous overnight but without suitable avenues to capitalize on this fame. They often ended up in less glamorous roles like corporate speaking, questionable brand endorsements, or low-budget television.

Hence, we saw Hannah Cockroft on Celebrity Mastermind, Lutalo Muhammad on Bargain Hunt, Jade Jones as the face of a slot machine company, and Greg Rutherford on numerous reality TV shows declaring he was “here to win it.”

These athletes quickly realized that the admiration they garnered was not for them personally, nor for their achievements or sports. They were simply part of a larger national drama, interchangeable figures who had momentarily allowed people to project their desires onto them. Ultimately, the public’s affection was always about themselves.

Perhaps Marchand already senses this. His interviews reveal a hint of discomfort, an unease with the magnitude of his sudden fame. For many athletes, the descent from the summit begins quietly, and their names fade from public memory sooner than expected.

The Olympics creates beautiful memories, but it forgets them just as quickly.

Source: The Guardian