Odd to think that Paris 2026 will mark the European senior championship debut of a certain Léon Marchand, Olympic and twice World champion - but not in the events the home crowd had anticipated seeing their all-rounder hero in: the world record holder is out of both the 200 and 400 medley at the continental showcase that gets underway in the pool on Monday.

Marchand was to have been a Day 1 attraction organisers can only dream of, but while he will racer the 200m butterfly and the 400m freestyle, there will be no racing on breaststroke this week:

The French ace is recovering from an adductor injury but, he and his entourage have decided, will take no risks this week in Paris - and breaststroke is the worst barrier to speedy and lasting recovery of the injury he suffered last month during national-championship week when he was back home from his bases in Texas, where he's guided by coach Bob Bowman.

In a statement, Sébastien Le Garrec, the French team doctor. said:

"The progression [of the injury] is favourable, and healing is largely complete. However, since competing in the 200m and 400m individual medley carries a non-zero risk of recurrence - and in order to safeguard the rest of the competition - the decision was made not to enter these races."

So, we won't see Léon in action until Friday, in the 200m butterfly, and then curtain-closing Sunday in the 400m freestyle.

During a press briefing in early August, Marchand had hinted that it was unlikely he would line up in the 400IM, but there was still a glimmer of hope. Said the Olympic champion:

"It’s the first day, so I’m a bit afraid of re-injuring my adductor and having my week cut short."

At least this way, Paris and France will get to see him in action - just not the best of it, for now.