NANTERRE, France (AP) — Bob Bowman teared up, just as he used to do watching Michael Phelps win Olympic gold medals.
This time it was Leon Marchand, Bowman's latest pupil to shine on the world stage, who pulled off a dominant victory in the 400-meter individual medley in front of a raucous French home crowd Sunday.
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Gold medalist, Leon Marchand, center, of France, stands with silver medalist, Tomoyuki Matsushita, left, of Japan, and bronze medalist Carson Foster, of the United States, poses after the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand, foreground center, of France, stands with silver medalist Tomoyuki Matsushita, foregound left, of Japan, and bronze medalist Carson Foster, of the United States, following the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France.(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
FILE - Swimming coach Bob Bowman, right, answers a question as Michael Phelps listens at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Omaha, Neb. Michael Phelps didn’t necessarily need to win eight gold medals in Beijing to be remembered as perhaps the greatest Olympian of them all. But his split-second victory over Milorad Cavic took his legacy to a whole new level. “Absolutely,” said Bob Bowman, who was Phelps’ longtime coach. “Eight gold medals is what separates him from everyone else on the planet.”(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Gold medalist, Leon Marchand, of France, stands on the podium after the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Gold medalist, Leon Marchand, center, of France, stands with silver medalist, Tomoyuki Matsushita, left, of Japan, and bronze medalist Carson Foster, of the United States, poses after the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand, foreground center, of France, stands with silver medalist Tomoyuki Matsushita, foregound left, of Japan, and bronze medalist Carson Foster, of the United States, following the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France.(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Gold medalist, Leon Marchand, left, of France, greets a fan after the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Gold medalist, Leon Marchand, of France, poses after the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
FILE - Swimming coach Bob Bowman, right, answers a question as Michael Phelps listens at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Omaha, Neb. Michael Phelps didn’t necessarily need to win eight gold medals in Beijing to be remembered as perhaps the greatest Olympian of them all. But his split-second victory over Milorad Cavic took his legacy to a whole new level. “Absolutely,” said Bob Bowman, who was Phelps’ longtime coach. “Eight gold medals is what separates him from everyone else on the planet.”(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Supporters of gold medalist Leon Marchand, of France, react following the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
FILE - U.S. swimming star Michael Phelps, left, walks with his coach Bob Bowman during a training session at the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Phelps spoke about having suicidal thoughts at the height of his career and helped produce a documentary about depression among Olympians. He also called on the International Olympic Committee and USOPC to do more. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The boisterous, flag-waving fans are counting on Marchand to be one of the premiere French athletes of the Paris Games, and the deafening cheers for their countryman have echoed off the walls of La Defense Arena every time he is in the pool.
“It was incredible. I’ve never really been at anything like that. So it was great, it was fantastic," Bowman said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday. “I actually did tear up a little bit right at the end, everyone was so happy.”
Marchand led from the moment he dove into the water and finished in an Olympic record of 4 minutes, 2.95 seconds, narrowly missing the world mark of 4:02.50 that he set last year, breaking Phelps' 15-year-old standard.
“It was pretty much exactly what I had hoped for, that he would be able to rise to the moment, because we knew what that was going to be like,” Bowman said. “And my question was: Could I have him prepared enough, mentally, physically, so that, No. 1, he could perform and, No. 2, just handle the expectations? And he did amazing.”
Beforehand, Bowman said he told Marchand to “have fun out there, that's it,” and offered one of their signature fist bumps. Afterward, Bowman shared with the 22-year-old former Arizona State star how proud he was of him for handling the pressure of the host nation on his shoulders.
“Very few people can go into that environment and perform at that level, I mean very few,” Bowman said. “I’ve been lucky to be around a couple of them. It takes something that you can’t coach. You can prepare ’em but they have to have something inside that gets them in the right mindset and be able to do that.”
Bowman and Marchand captured the Sun Devils’ first NCAA championship together earlier this year. Bowman then left Arizona State in April to take the Texas coaching job, and Marchand turned pro and relocated to keep training with him.
Marchand enjoyed his first Olympic title for one night, then immediately refocused and got back to work. He returned to the training pool Monday morning for a lighter day, swimming 2,500 meters ahead of his 200-meter butterfly preliminary heat Tuesday morning.
“He got a good sleep and we had a plan for what was going to happen today and he's going through that, and then we'll start with tomorrow and see how that goes,” a beaming Bowman said.
Marchand's poise and calm even blew away Bowman, someone who has seen just about everything in the sport. This is the longtime coach of Phelps who witnessed the decorated American star walk away with 23 Olympic golds and 28 total medals.
“It was actually far beyond my expectations of what he would do in that. He was just completely relaxed and normal all week before, the whole time,” Bowman said. “I think it says he kind of knows who he is and what he's about. He's very secure, and he's quite humble and down to earth, and I think you just see that coming through.”
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Gold medalist, Leon Marchand, of France, stands on the podium after the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Gold medalist, Leon Marchand, center, of France, stands with silver medalist, Tomoyuki Matsushita, left, of Japan, and bronze medalist Carson Foster, of the United States, poses after the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Gold medalist Leon Marchand, foreground center, of France, stands with silver medalist Tomoyuki Matsushita, foregound left, of Japan, and bronze medalist Carson Foster, of the United States, following the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France.(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Gold medalist, Leon Marchand, left, of France, greets a fan after the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Gold medalist, Leon Marchand, of France, poses after the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
FILE - Swimming coach Bob Bowman, right, answers a question as Michael Phelps listens at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Omaha, Neb. Michael Phelps didn’t necessarily need to win eight gold medals in Beijing to be remembered as perhaps the greatest Olympian of them all. But his split-second victory over Milorad Cavic took his legacy to a whole new level. “Absolutely,” said Bob Bowman, who was Phelps’ longtime coach. “Eight gold medals is what separates him from everyone else on the planet.”(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Supporters of gold medalist Leon Marchand, of France, react following the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
FILE - U.S. swimming star Michael Phelps, left, walks with his coach Bob Bowman during a training session at the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Phelps spoke about having suicidal thoughts at the height of his career and helped produce a documentary about depression among Olympians. He also called on the International Olympic Committee and USOPC to do more. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Leon Marchand, of France, celebrates after winning the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
BANGKOK (AP) — It's a big day for LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand.
On Thursday, they gained the legal right to register their marriages, making it the first country in Southeast Asia and the third place in Asia to recognize same-sex unions, after Taiwan and Nepal. In central Bangkok, a popular shopping mall held a daylong gala to help accommodate the hundreds of same-sex couples who wanted to register their marriages on the very first day.
Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity but struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law. Thai society has broadly conservative values, and members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life, while also saying they've seen great improvement in recent years.
The marriage equality bill was officially written into law on Sept. 24, after it was endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The government led by the Pheu Thai party made marriage equality one of its main goals after coming to power in 2023. It had a major presence at the annual Bangkok Pride parade in June, with thousands of people celebrating in one of Bangkok’s busiest commercial districts.
The Associated Press spoke with seven same-sex couples in the days before the law took effect:
“This law doesn’t only equate life. It is life! At long last, Thailand’s society accepts the legality of all marriages in our land, regardless of sexual orientation. With that one sentence, lost or wasted lives have been rescued. Spirits restored. The whole country is better off.” — Jakrapob Penkair
“The marriage equality law will bring about a multitude of positive outcomes, especially by providing greater security and legal assurances for our relationships, including better access to health care and other protections. I’m truly happy this day has finally become a reality,” — Prorawin Battemdee
“The enforcement of the marriage equality law is proof that regardless of our gender, we all share the same basic human rights in every aspect under Thai law. It also paves the way for other countries in Asia, highlighting the importance of recognizing each other’s human values and enabling everyone to live.” — Kullayahnut Akkharasretthabudh
“This law will grant both of us the right to take care of each other, legally sign consent for the other’s medical treatment, and provide each other with lifelong security. When one of us dies, the law will ensure that our bond is recognized and protected.” — Chantamas Hemapanpairo
"We’re quite fortunate. We have a supportive social circle, friends, and family who accept us for who we are and accept the person we love. Marriage, it seems, isn’t everything that fulfills us emotionally. “However, ultimately, we believe that as two human beings, we should be granted the same basic legal rights as heterosexual couples. We are a complete family in spirit, but legal recognition would alleviate our future anxieties. In the end, we aren’t asking for anything special — we just want a simple, happy family life.” — Patherine Khunnares
“Before the marriage equality bill became law, I personally felt that I could only use the word ‘partner.’ But from now on, it’s ‘family.’ — Jutarat Chuenpae
“The marriage equality law allows everyone’s lives to complete each other without any further discrimination.” — Panuwat Srisawat
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FILE - Participants hold a rainbow flag during the Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
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Nutanong sopon, 43, left, and Jutarat chuenpae, 37, both business owners, hold hands and jump for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
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