Four-time Olympic gold-medal winner Léon Marchand is back and chasing more world records

SINGAPORE (AP) — Léon Marchand's life changed drastically after he won four gold medals a year ago in the Paris Olympics. He was a national hero and had to adjust — particularly when he was at home in France.

“I have to plan things,” Marchand explained Saturday. “I can’t just go on my own in the city and just go get bread.”

“I know how to say ‘no’ better,” he added. “It gets a lot more peaceful when I travel out of France.”

After swimming under the tutelage of Bob Bowman at the University of Texas at Austin, Marchand is back and will head the field at the swimming world championships — the biggest meet since the Olympics.

It's also the stepping stone for many toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with races in the pool starting Sunday and running through Aug. 3.

Marchand, Canada's Summer McIntosh, and Katie Ledecky of the United States were the stars in Paris. They'll be the swimmers to watch in Singapore, joined by a host of Olympians and younger swimmers who hope to be in Los Angeles in three years.

The youngest in the field is 12-year-old Yu Zidi of China, who could be a medal contender in her three races with times — and youth — that are shocking global swimming.

Marchand will swim only the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medleys and some team relays, opting out of his other gold-medal events in Paris — the 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke.

“This is a transition year for me, so I wanted to have a lighter schedule than usual," Marchand said. “I'm really excited to do just less than usual, you know, just to see how far I can go, how fast I can go.”

Marchand will be after the 200 IM record set in 2011 by American Ryan Lochte — 1 minute, 54.00 seconds. He'll also try to break his own 400 IM record (4:02.50) set at the 2023 worlds in Fukuoka, Japan.

He credits Bowman — famous for coaching Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic gold medals — for pushing him at Texas. Bowman tutors an international cast of swimmers that this fall will also include McIntosh.

“He knows how to be calm in every situation,” Marchand said of Bowman. "I think he taught us throughout the years. He also had a lot of experience on the biggest stage, so I trust him fully.”

Without the stress of two extra races, Marchand is ready to make more history.

“Of course I want to break all the records,” he said. "I don’t know when that’s going to happen”

Many are expecting it in Singapore.

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Leon Marchand from France speaks to the media during the press conference at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Leon Marchand from France speaks to the media during the press conference at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Leon Marchand from France arrives for the press conference at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Leon Marchand from France attends at the press conference at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan didn’t let city rival Inter Milan open up too big a gap at the top of Serie A as it fought back to win 3-1 at in-form Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot winning a penalty and then scoring two goals.

Inter had moved six points clear of Milan and Napoli with a 1-0 win over Lecce on Wednesday, coupled with Napoli’s frustrating draw against Parma.

Milan’s victory saw the Rossoneri cut the gap back to three points.

It didn’t start off so well for Massimiliano Allegri’s team, however.

Como — which was sixth in Serie A — got off to the perfect start when a corner was taken short and then floated in for Marc-Oliver Kempf to head the hosts into the lead in the 10th minute.

Como dominated but Milan leveled on the stroke of halftime when it was awarded a penalty after Rabiot was brought down by Kempf and Christopher Nkunku’s spot kick squirmed under the body of Jean Butez.

Milan turned the match around completely 10 minutes into the second half. Rafael Leão controlled a crossfield pass and then cut inside before lifting the ball over for Rabiot to chest down and volley across into the bottom right corner.

And Rabiot sealed the match shortly before full time when Niclas Füllkrug headed a ball back to the France midfielder and he drilled hard and low into the near corner.

Bologna ended a miserable run as it fought back to win 3-2 at relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in a match full of spectacular goals.

Bologna hadn’t won since November and got off to a poor start when it gave away the ball in the opposition penalty area and Antoine Bernède raced almost from box to box before laying it off for Gift Orban to fire home.

Riccardo Orsolini curled in an equalizer following a smart free kick and equally impressive goals from Jens Odgaard and Santiago Castro put Bologna 3-1 up at halftime.

Bologna midfielder Remo Marco Freuler accidentally turned a cross into his own net in the 71st minute.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Verona's Gift Orban, left, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna's Santiago Castro (9), right, celebrates goal 1-3 during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Marc-Oliver Kempf, center, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Nico Paz, left, and AC Milan's Luka Modric in action during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)