Chinese Swimmer Pan Zhanle Breaks Records Amid Controversy at Paris Olympics
Chinese superstar Pan Zhanle sets world records in the 100m freestyle and 100m relay split at the Paris Olympics, sparking both admiration and controversy over doping suspicions.
Paris, Bollywood Fever: Chinese swimming sensation Pan Zhanle has made headlines at the Paris Olympics with record-breaking performances, but his achievements are marred by ongoing doping suspicions.
The 100m Olympic champion showcased his dominance at La Defense Arena, setting new standards in the sport and igniting controversy with pointed remarks against Australian champion Kyle Chalmers.
Pan shattered his own world record in the 100m freestyle, finishing more than a second ahead of Chalmers, and set the fastest 100m relay split of all time at 45.92 seconds, single-handedly securing gold for China in the men’s 4x100m medley relay. Celebrating his 20th birthday, Pan’s incredible swim helped China clinch the medal by a 0.55-second margin, despite being behind France and the United States at the final change.
His performances, however, are clouded by international scrutiny. The New York Times reported in April that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ) ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, leading to allegations of doping cover-ups by China’s anti-doping body. Although Pan is not among the reported swimmers, his feats have attracted suspicion.
British swim champion Adam Peaty voiced his concerns, emphasizing fair competition. “In sport, one of my favorite quotes I’ve seen lately is: ‘There’s no point in winning if you don’t win it fair’,” he said. “Even if you touch and you know you’re cheating, you’re not winning, right?”
Despite these doubts, Chinese athletes received respectful applause at La Defense Arena. Butterfly ace Zhang Yufei, reportedly among those who tested positive for TMZ, expressed her stress about competing under suspicion. “I am very worried that my good friends look at me with suspicious eyes and they do not want to compete with me,” she said.
Chinese swimmers have been rigorously tested, with World Aquatics data showing they underwent more tests than any other nation. Nonetheless, Pan’s extraordinary 46.40-second swim in the 100m freestyle raised eyebrows, prompting Australian Olympian-turned-coach Brett Hawke to question its plausibility. “You don’t beat those guys by one full body length in 100 freestyle. That’s not humanly possible,” he stated.
Former world champion James Magnussen acknowledged Pan’s game-changing performance. “My whole career I was trying to break 47 seconds. I didn’t think in my lifetime that I would see someone swim 45 seconds,” he remarked. Magnussen anticipates significant fame and commercial opportunities for Pan in China, positioning him at the pinnacle of the country’s sporting identity.
Meanwhile, Kyle Chalmers remains resolute in the face of Pan’s achievements. “The goalposts have been shifted, it’s not about swimming 46.9 any more,” he said. “I’m already training so hard, but I’m going to have to train even harder now to be competitive with them.”
China concluded the Paris Games with a historic 12 medals in swimming, led by standout performances from Pan Zhanle and Zhang Yufei. Despite the accolades, the shadow of doping allegations continues to loom over their success.
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