Marchand, a four-time Olympic gold medallist in Paris 2024, has been forced to withdraw from two of his four individual events because of an injury. A groin muscle injury means he cannot swim breaststroke.
Instead, he stepped onto the starting line in the European Championship final in the 4x200 metre freestyle and secured a resounding silver for France after powering through in 1:43.76 - almost a second ahead of his nearest competitor.
France started in a far lane after finishing seventh in the heats - but took silver and the nation's first medal at the home championships in front of cheering supporters.
Great Britain took the gold - just like on the women's side.
Russian Ilya Borodin, whose country is competing as neutral athletes, took gold in the 400-metre medley in Marchand's absence.
