Leon Marchand captures fourth individual swimming gold of Paris 2024, setting off a party across Paris

The party for Leon Marchand spread beyond the pool, quickly sweeping all across Paris.

At Stade de France, hosting the first night of track and field action, an enormous ovation broke out when Marchand won his fourth individual gold medal at Paris 2024. The roar was so loud that the first heat of the 400-meter run in the decathlon was delayed.

At the French Olympic house, nearly 20,000 gathered outside to watch Marchand cap his dominating run at the pool, including 19-year-old Arthur Oursel.

READ MORE: Insane 77-minute gold rush for Australia

READ MORE: Kaylee McKeown surges into history books

READ MORE: This is the moment McEvoy decided to chase gold at Paris

“He’s a hero,” Oursel said. “He’s our hero.”

With French President Emmanuel Macron among the more than 15,000 fans cheering him on in the rugby stadium-turned-natatorium, Marchand soared to another runaway victory in the 200-metre individual medley on Saturday morning (AEST).

“I don't think anything went wrong this week,” Marchand said.

“It was just perfect.”

The 22-year-old French phenomenon left no doubt he'll be remembered as one of the biggest stars of the Summer Games in his home country. He finished in an Olympic record of 1:54.06 seconds, just missing Ryan Lochte's 13-year-old world mark.

Watch every moment, every medal of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event streaming ad free, live and on demand with 4K on Stan Sport.

That was about the only thing he didn't accomplish in six magical days at La Defense Arena, previously winning the 400 IM, 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke — the latter two about two hours apart in the same session.

Marchand became only the fourth swimmer in Olympic history to win four individual golds at a single Games.

The others? Michael Phelps, who did it in both 2004 and 2008; Mark Spitz in 1972; and East German Kristin Otto in 1988.

Heady company, indeed.

“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."

The silver went to Britain’s Duncan Scott, a body length behind at 1:55.31. China’s Wang Shun grabbed the bronze in 1:56.00, edging out American Carson Foster for a spot on the podium.

A packed pool hall came to cheer on their favourite son one more time. They chanted, sang “Sweet Caroline,” waved the French tricolour flag and unveiled a huge tifo on the upper deck.

After Marchand touched the wall, he held up four fingers — one for every gold. He climbed from the pool, pumped his fists, and then held out his arms as if to say, “What more could you want?”

Not a thing.

He had done it all, more than fulfilling the expectations of his nation and the comparisons to Phelps, who was there to cheer Marchand on. What might have been a burden to some athletes only seemed to push Marchand to even greater heights.

Macron shook Marchand's hand during the celebrations and sent his congratulations via social media.

“The impossible isn’t French!” Macron wrote in French. “Four home gold medals and a new Olympic record — it’s historic. It’s Leon Marchand.”

Marchand certainly enjoyed his moment, which his American coach Bob Bowman — Phelps' coach, in an appropriate touch — had encouraged him to do.

He led the fans behind the podium in a cheer before climbing to the top step one more time. The crowd erupted in its most rousing rendition yet of “La Marseillaise" — though, of course, they've had plenty of chances to work on the French national anthem this week.

Chants of "Leon! Leon! Leon!" filled the arena as soon as the anthem was done. Someone held up a sign that simply “Merci Leon.”

“I'm extremely proud," Marchand said, “to be French."