Brace yourselves for the roar when Léon Marchand walks out for France as one of nine medallists from the swimming events chosen as flag bearers at the Closing Ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, schedule for 9pm local time.

Marchand is the biggest hauler of gold on a list with many swimmers from many countries, including multi-medal podium placers Katie Ledecky (USA)
Kaylee McKeown (AUS), Summer McIntosh (CAN), Tatjana Smith (RSA) and Kristof Milak (HUN).

Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), the 2016 Olympic 1500 free champion, and Roman Mityukow (SUI) and Mona McSharry (IRL) are the other Paris podium placers set to fly the Aquatics flag as France says an Olympic Au Revoir for a third time a century after the last (1900, 1924, 2024).

Dan Wiffen was to have accompanied McSharry but is feeling too unwell to do so and will be replaced by double gold medallist in rowing, Fintan McCarthy (IRL). Wiffen last competed on Friday, when he finished 18th in the first marathon of his life in a cracking race in the Seine following by crack in the mixed zone.

Marchand's Magnificent Four:

400IM:

M400 IM: Majestic Marchand Cheered To 4:02 Olympic-Record Victory By Rafters-Raising Home Crowd

After Marchand, 22, led inside world-record pace on butterfly, he turned from backstroke to breaststroke to guttural grunts that bounced off the roof and reached the French charge’s ears every time he lifted his silicone-capped head to breath

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

200 'Fly

Marchand Mauls Milak’s Defence Hopes With Tactical Brilliance

Bullseye for the Frenchman’s first of two targets with a 1:51.21 to 1:51.75 victory over Hungarian Kristof Milak in the 200m butterfly (with gallery of post-race shots from Patrick B. Kraemer)

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

200 Breast:

Magnificent Marchand Joins The Club Of French Olympic Greats With Third Gold

Coach Bob Bowman’s experience with Michael Phelps, winner of an other-worldly, record 23 golds atop 28 medals in all over four Olympics, played a critical role in Marchand’s recovery between battles on his way to the double

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

200IM

M200IM: Marchand Mesmerises With 1:54.06 WR-Rattler, Scott The Only Man Within His Wash

His Olympic-record time places him in the 0.1sec gap between Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps; and makes Marchand faster that Phelps was in the 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m medley. Both are a tribute to coach Bob Bowman

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

The SOS+ Winners series looking at the nations that posted at least 1 gold on the medals table and our review of the swimming at Paris 2024 will be rolled out day by day from tomorrow.

For members of the SOS+ community, the full list of flag-bearers below...