Zhi made it very clear he was extending his hand and it is unclear if Marchand did acknowledge him when he went right past him. Regardless, fans were left fuming at Marchand with the French star called out on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform.
The move comes after Aussie silver medallist Kyle Chalmers defended himself after comments from Chinese rival and 100m freestyle gold medallist Pan Zhanle. The Chinese star crushed the 100m freestyle field to win gold in the only world record set in the pool at this year's Olympics.
After the race, Pan reportedly told Chinese media that he'd been disrespected by several rival swimmers. Chalmers one of them. However, Chalmers has defended himself and claimed he showed respect towards Pan throughout the Olympics. Pan's gold medal swim in the 100m freestyle is so far the only world record in the Paris pool, which has been widely criticised for being slower than usual.
In another incident of systematic terrible sportsmanship, Leon Marchand ignores a Chinese coach's handshake after the medal ceremony. pic.twitter.com/I05GPbxJgq
— Orikron ???????? (@orikron) August 2, 2024
Marchand now becomes only the fourth swimmer in Olympics history to win four individual gold medals at a games. He joins an illustrious group with swimming icon Michael Phelps achieving the feat in both 2004 and 2008; Mark Spitz in 1972; and East German Kristin Otto in 1988.
“I don't think anything went wrong this week,” Marchand said after the race. “It was just perfect.” When told the illustrious group he had joined after winning his fourth individual gold, Marchand was taken aback.
“That's crazy. Those guys are legends,” Marchand said. “I don’t think I have realised it yet. Maybe I will in a few days."
Marchand will most likely go down as the face of the Paris Olympics for the home nation having united the country. And his success has been widely celebrated.
