By Sam Blacker on SwimSwam
2026 FRENCH ELITE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday, June 27th – Thursday, July 2nd Piscine Raymond Sommet, Saint-Etienne, France LCM (50m) French Selection Criteria for European Championships Meet Central Event Schedule Psych Sheets Live Results SwimSwam Meet Preview SwimSwam Recaps Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6Leon Marchand will have the opportunity to add events to his European Championships schedule, L’Equipe has reported, after the 400 IM world record holder pulled out of the French Championships due to an injury suffered in just his third swim of the meet.
After winning the 400 IM on the first day of the meet in a sizzling 4:04.56, the fifth-fastest swim in history, Marchand then suffered an adductor injury during the heats of the 200 breaststroke. Having gone out fastest of anyone to halfway in 1:02.70, he then split 35.46/38.70 on the way home.
He placed 9th overall in 2:16.16, however 5th-place finisher Carl Aitkaci‘s scratch would have pulled him into the ‘A’ final. Marchand scratched the final regardless, undergoing MRI and ultrasound scans which did not reveal any major injury, although a lesion (likely a mild strain or small tear) was suspected.
Denis Auguin, the French National Technical Director, stated the following:
“During the third 50 meters of his heat, Léon felt a sharp pain in the adductor major of his right leg. Although initial examinations (ultrasound and MRI) did not reveal any major abnormalities, a lesion is suspected. In order to avoid any aggravation and to preserve his health, Léon has decided, in agreement with his technical and medical staff, not to continue the competition. Léon will now be taken care of at Insep by the French team doctor for additional examinations and follow-up.”
INSEP is the National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance, located in the Bois de Vincennes on the outskirts of Paris. Marchand will remain at the centre over the next few weeks, making use of its excellent facilities which will include MRI scans, sports medicine specialists and more.
The remainder of the French European Championships team will spend time at a national camp in Marseille. However, the decision has been made for Marchand to remain in Paris due to the higher level of medical care available there.
Auguin went on to say, regarding Marchand’s initial scan, that “The first imagery is rather reassuring, if there had been something dramatic, we would have seen it.”
The most notable announcement from L’Equipe was that Auguin had stated that Marchand could swim additional events at the European Championships this summer “as long as he has achieved the required times during the year.”
This is effectively section 3.2 of the French selection criteria, which states that a swimmer may enter an additional event at the European Championships provided that they have already qualified individually, and that they have achieved the qualifying standard in that event at an FFN-approved meet between June 16, 2025, and July 2, 2026.
These include National championships, Regional championships, FFN qualifying meets, European Aquatics meets, and World Aquatics meets. However, Marchand has swum just two of those in the time period; the 2025 World Championships, where he swam the 200 IM and 400 IM, and these 2026 French Elite Championships where he only swam the 400 IM.
His other meets, and the events he swam, are as below.
Leon Marchand LCM Meets, 06/16/2025-07/02/2026
Indy Summer Cup, 06/25/2025 – 06/28/2025
100 free – 49.70 200 back – 1:57.14 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 100 breast – 59.95 200 IM – 1:57.23 *European Championships Qualifying Time*2025 World Championships, 07/27/2025 – 08/03/2025
200 IM – 1:52.69 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 400 IM – 4:04.73 *European Championships Qualifying Time*2025 U.S. Open Championships, 12/03/2025 – 12/06/2025
400 free – 3:44.70 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 100 back – 56.87 100 breast – 1:00.56 100 fly – 51.20 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 200 fly – 1:52.57 *European Championships Qualifying Time*2026 TYR Pro Swim Series – Austin, 01/14/2026 – 01/17/2026
200 back – 1:57.90 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 200 breast – 2:09.72 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 200 IM – 1:57.65 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 400 IM – 4:13.21 *European Championships Qualifying Time*2026 TYR Pro Swim Series – Westmont, 03/04/2026 – 03/07/2026
200 free – 1:47.12 400 free – 3:48.79 200 back – 1:57.56 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 200 breast – 2:10.06 *European Championships Qualifying Time*Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open, 04/29/2026 – 05/02/2026
200 breast – 2:09.04 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 200 fly – 1:53.08 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 200 IM – 1:57.28 *European Championships Qualifying Time* 400 IM – 4:09.33 *European Championships Qualifying Time*Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite, 06/04/2026 – 06/07/2026
400 free – 3:57.64 400 IM – 4:12.13 *European Championships Qualifying Time*2026 French Elite Championships, 06/28/2026 – 07/02/2026
400 IM – 4:04.56 200 breast – 2:16.16Leon Marchand, 2026 European Championships Qualifying Times
400 free – 3:44.70 200 breast – 2:09.04 200 back – 1:57.56 (1:57.14 at 2025 Indy Summer Cup) 200 fly – 1:52.57 200 IM – 1:52.69 400 IM – 4:04.56He has hit the qualifying times above at either the World Championships or French Championships, which are already FFN-approved, or the TYR Pro Swim Series, U.S. Open, or Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open (200 breast only). The former two are almost certain to be approved as qualifying meets for Marchand, and he hit the qualifying time in the 200 breast at the Austin stop of the Pro Swim Series.
He will therefore have his pick of six events in Paris this summer. It seems unlikely that he would enter the 200 breast given his injury, and the 200 back is the only event where there are already four swimmers under the qualifying time in Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Antoine Herlem, Mewen Tomac, and Nathan Muratory.
The 200 fly has been his best event so far this season, with swims of 1:52.57 and 1:53.08. Only Kristof Milak and Krzysztof Chmielewski have ever been faster among swimmers who will be at the European Championships this summer.
Even with an injury likely to affect his breaststroke, it would be somewhat of a shock to see him forego either IM event. Given that the 200 breast is not a likely option, the 400 free may end up being his fourth individual event. The final of the 400 free and 200 IM are both in the final session of the meet, as is the final of the 4×100 medley relay, so one of those could be dropped.
The medley relay is another event in which his involvement is not guaranteed. Carl Aitkaci, who was 59.43 in the heats of the 100 breast, gives France another option on breaststroke, and Marchand’s 51.20 in the 100 fly in December indicates that he may be able to cover for the currently injured Maxime Grousset on the fly leg. Grousset, if he returns in time to swim at the championships, could then slide over to the freestyle leg after no swimmer broke 48.8 seconds this week.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Leon Marchand Can Swim Extra Events At European Championships Despite French Champs Withdrawal
Hence then, the article about leon marchand can swim extra events at european championships despite french champs withdrawal was published today ( ) and is available on swimswam ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Leon Marchand Can Swim Extra Events At European Championships Despite French Champs Withdrawal )
Also on site :