Marchand's Double Dare & Recovery Tips From Bowman's Book Of Phelpsian Spells
How will the Frenchman stand up to Stubblety Cook & Co after a bruising battle with Milak? The answer is in coach Bowman's book of lessons learned in steering Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic golds, multi-eventing aplenty
When Léon Marchand steps up to race in two finals less than two hours apart this evening, he will have swimming's King of Recovery, Bob Bowman, and his Book of Phelpsian Spells, by his side to guide him through a process aimed at delivering the double golden outcome all of France is praying for.
The stakes are high. If Marchand, who claimed gold in the 400m medley on Sunday, wins the 200m butterfly before quarter to nine at the Paris La Defense Arena and then the 200m breaststroke just after 10.30, he will join the small club of French sports legends who have won three golds at the same Olympics: cyclist Paul Masson, in 1896 and skier Jean-Claude Killy, at a home Games in Grenoble in 1968.
Breaststroke and butterfly is an unusual combination. Even more rare is to find a swimmer capable of making a global elite final in 200m on both those strokes. In Olympic waters, no man has ever raced in both finals on the same day or otherwise. Here comes one.
