French fan zone explodes in cheers as Leon Marchand clinches second Olympic gold

(1 Aug 2024)
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Paris, France - 31 July 2024
1. Various of crowds in Club France fan zone in the Grande Halle de la Villette reacting to Leon Marchand winning gold in the men's 200m butterfly swimming individual
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Jean Pierre Forestier, Olympics spectator:
“Magic, he came back up over the last 50 meters. It was truly magical. We didn't expect him to win, he's done it again tonight, a second gold medal and I hope there'll be a third tonight.”
3. Various of crowd cheering
STORYLINE:
Thousands of French fans exploded into cheers as swimming prodigy Léon Marchand won his second Olympic gold medal, overtaking Hungary's Kristóf Milák in the men's 200-meter butterfly individual event on Wednesday evening.
In the north of Paris, the Grande Halle de la Villette, typically an exhibition venue, has been transformed into Club France - a pulsating hub of national pride and celebration.
The crowd, gathered around large screens, waved the French tricolor flag and chanted in unison as Marchand secured his victory.
The atmosphere was electrifying, with supporters embracing and shouting in celebration as the national anthem echoed through the fan zone.
Marchand's thrilling chase-down of Milák in the final stretch solidified his status as a national hero.
The 22-year-old's performances have captivated the nation, drawing widespread acclaim and admiration.
Club France has been a center of excitement throughout the Olympics, with fans gathering to support their athletes.
Marchand's latest triumph further ignited the joyous atmosphere, providing another moment of collective pride for the French supporters.
AP Video shot by Nicolas Garriga
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