Pan Zhanle Shatters the 100-Meter Freestyle Record, Sparking Both Applause and Debate

The 2024 Paris Olympics were undoubtedly one of the greatest sporting events of the century with many notable upsets and victories, especially in the sport of swimming. Most notably, Pan Zhangle was one who smashed records and drove rage from all around the world. 

Pan’s Rise to Greatness

Pan started his swimming journey at the early age of four when he enrolled in Wenzhou Youth Swimming School. Under his grandfather's mentorship, he was able to make his international debut at the age of seventeen at the 2021 FINA SC World Championships. There he made it to the semifinals in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 46.92, but missed the final after swimming a 47.09. In addition to his individual performances, he swam in the 400-meter freestyle and 200-meter freestyle relay, contributing to a 5th-place finish for China. Though he didn’t make it to the finals, his great individual and relay performances showcased Pan’s exceptional talent and kept fans curious about what was to come.  

In his Olympic debut, Pan Zhanle from China swam an astonishing time of 46.4 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle. He beat his own world record set earlier this year at the World Aquatics Championships by a remarkable 0.4 seconds. In the race, Kyle Chalmers, the 2016 Rio champion in the 100 freestyle, finished second and was a full body length behind Pan. 

However, Pan wasn’t done yet. In the 4 x 100-meter medley relay, he went on to split 45.92 seconds in the anchor leg, leading China to a gold medal whilst pulling off a major upset against the United States who had won the event in the last nine Olympics. 

Pan’s spectacular performances in the pool brought in lots of praise from the swimming world. Swimming the 100-meter freestyle in a time in the low 46-second range was unheard of by any athlete before Pan. 

Rising Tensions: Chinese athletes speak out amidst the doping allegations

Unfortunately, his record-breaking performance in the 100-meter freestyle and the following medley led to a series of clashes between the Chinese and Australian teams. Pan accused Australian swimmer Chalmers of completely ignoring him following his attempt to greet him after the 4 x 100-meter medley relay. However, Chalmers responded stating “I find it a bit weird. I gave him a fist pump before the relays, and then my focus went to my teammates and my own racing.”  

Chalmers isn’t the only one to come under fire though, as Australian coach Brett Hawke in response to Pan’s overwhelming victory stated “it’s not humanly possible to beat that field…not in that pool, against that field”. When his comments made their way to China, many Chinese netizens made various comments on Weibo with some calling Hawke a “sore loser.” 

In 2021, just months before the Tokyo Olympics, 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance at a training camp. However, this was only revealed after the 2024 Swimming World Championships. Shocked at the fact they were unpunished, many athletes from various countries were frustrated and began questioning the sincerity of many Chinese athletes. 

As a result in the 2024 Paris Olympics, China started receiving a significantly higher amount of doping tests when compared to other countries. Since January 2024, Chinese athletes have been tested on average 24 times, an enormous number when compared to America’s average of six and Australia’s average of four. 

Moreover, many Chinese athletes feel disrespected by the numerous doping allegations against them. Zhang Yufei, a teammate of Pan, who earned six Olympic medals herself, commented on the situation. “Pan had consistently swum under 47 seconds prior to achieving his new world record,” Zhang said. She then asked why Pan was being questioned of doping while athletes like Americans Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky were free of the allegations. 

Despite the chaos surrounding Pan’s performance in the freestyle, his record-breaking times will be remembered as a remarkable moment in Olympic swimming history. Whether the talk will be around the pool, or outside, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the 20-year-old from Wenzhou China will continue to be a crucial figure in the swimming world.