In 1955, Marchant shot to prominence after only two years in the sport, winning the 500 m time trial and the 5 mile event at the Junior Australian Championships.

In 1957, Marchant retired to play Australian rules football, again basing his decision on his friends' interests.

Marchant rose to prominence by winning the 500 metres (m) time trial at the 1955 Victorian Championships for juniors in only his second year of competition.

[1] The pair went on to win the 2000 m tandem event at the Australian Championships in 1956, but going into the Melbourne Olympics, nobody, themselves included, regarded them as realistic medal chances.

[2] However, their mentor, former champion Billy Guyatt convinced them that they had the potential to make progress at international level.

Marchant devised a signal system, such as a head bump on Browne's hip, or even a verbal shout when the opposition made a move.

[1] Ten nations were entered in the tandem competition, and in the first round, they were drawn with Germany and South Africa, who fielded their silver medallist pairing of Tom Shardelow and Ray Robinson from the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.

[2][4] The Australians made their move too early and led at the ringing of the bell at the start of the last lap, but they were overhauled well before the line as they faded in the final straight.

The Australians lead for three quarters of the distance, but were overhauled by their Czechoslovakian opponent in the final metres and were defeated in a photo finish.

Having been beaten twice after leading out, the Australians sat back before sweeping past the Germans and Americans in the final lap.

[5] The Australians finished in a time of 10.8 s and Browne later claimed that he was convinced by the performance that they would win the gold medal.

The Australians came to the conclusion that their wheels and tyres were too heavy, so they sought to buy better cycling equipment from the defeated Germans.

Guyatt was regarded as a marketing-style motivator and he attempted to give Browne and Marchant a psychological boost.

[1] The following year in 1957, Marchant unexpectedly left the sport, much to the dismay of the cycling community, which believed that he would continue to more success.

Within a year he left for Europe with Ron Murray and Alan McLellan on the professional racing circuit.

[1] Marchant only displayed glimpses of his ability, defeating the Italian champion in one outing and also winning the La Trobe race in Tasmania.