The French swimmer Léon Marchand understood that he would be his country’s marquee athlete at the Paris Games, and he surely is. Marchand, 22, has ascended to the top of the swimming world just in time for his home country to host the Games, and as one of France’s best — and earliest — hopes for Olympic gold. Carrying the weight of a nation’s hopes can be an uncommonly heavy burden for any athlete, and Marchand will not bear it alone, of course. Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 sensation who just completed his rookie season with the N.B.A.’s San Antonio Spurs, will lead France’s men’s basketball team. Teddy Riner, one of the best judokas in history, will look to claim a medal at a sixth straight Games.

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Persons: Léon Marchand, didn’t, Nike Jordans, ”, Marchand, Victor Wembanyama, Teddy Riner, Thierry Henry Organizations: Paris Games, Games, Arizona State, University of Arizona, Nike, San Antonio Spurs, France’s Locations: selfies, Arizona, France