Paris Olympics 2024: China’s Pan smashes own 100m freestyle world record for gold
Gold medallist and world record holder China's Pan Zhanle walks next to the pool following the men's 100m freestyle swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre. — AFP pic
Thursday, 01 Aug 2024 9:23 AM MYT
PARIS, July 31 — China’s Pan Zhanle obliterated his own 100 metres freestyle world record at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday as he took an astonishing gold medal in the event and humbled a slew of champion rivals.
The 19-year-old sensation’s time of 46.40 seconds shaved an incredible 0.40 seconds off his previous mark set at the World Championships in Doha in February when he announced himself to the world with a stunning relay leadoff swim.
”I tried my best to get the best result. I was very surprised in the end that I broke the world record and it was a magical moment,” Pan told reporters through a translator.
Australia’s silver medallist Kyle Chalmers finished a yawning 1.08 seconds behind Pan, while David Popovici finished a further 0.01 second behind for the bronze.
There was no easing in for Pan who took off like a rocket and mowed down the opening 50 metres in an outrageous 22.28 seconds.
He crushed any hopes Chalmers and Popovici might have had of catching him as he stretched his lead and flew to the wall.
A doping storm has followed China’s swim team to Paris after revelations in April that 23 Chinese athletes had tested positive for a banned heart medication but were allowed to swim at the Tokyo Games. China said the athletes were victims of contamination from a hotel kitchen, and an independent review backed the World Anti-Doping Agency’s handling of the case.
China was then plunged back into the spotlight on Tuesday after the New York Times reported that two swimmers in 2022 had tested positive for a banned steroid but had provisional suspensions lifted when the results were also blamed on contaminated food.
Wenzhou native Pan rose above the acrimony, however, to earn his first Olympic gold medal some five months after winning the world title.
He said he had been tested more than 20 times over the past few months but trod a diplomatic path when asked whether it had affected him.
”The testing was essentially done under all the regulations, so I don’t feel there was any difference or influence,” he said.
Chalmers, the gold medallist at Rio 2016, took his second silver in the event and eighth medal at Olympics, having finished runnerup behind Caeleb Dressel at the Tokyo Games.
Chalmers overcame a back injury before Olympic trials and a change of coach after his former one Peter Bishop was stood down in March after an undisclosed investigation.
”I’ve been swimming the same race plan for the last eight years, and it’s worked pretty well for me. It almost worked well for me. I guess tonight to get a silver medal still was amazing,” said Chalmers.
Popovici, who previously held the world record before Pan took it at Doha, added the bronze to his 200m freestyle gold medal at Paris. — Reuters
Thursday, 01 Aug 2024 9:23 AM MYT
PARIS, July 31 — China’s Pan Zhanle obliterated his own 100 metres freestyle world record at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday as he took an astonishing gold medal in the event and humbled a slew of champion rivals.
The 19-year-old sensation’s time of 46.40 seconds shaved an incredible 0.40 seconds off his previous mark set at the World Championships in Doha in February when he announced himself to the world with a stunning relay leadoff swim.
”I tried my best to get the best result. I was very surprised in the end that I broke the world record and it was a magical moment,” Pan told reporters through a translator.
Australia’s silver medallist Kyle Chalmers finished a yawning 1.08 seconds behind Pan, while David Popovici finished a further 0.01 second behind for the bronze.
There was no easing in for Pan who took off like a rocket and mowed down the opening 50 metres in an outrageous 22.28 seconds.
He crushed any hopes Chalmers and Popovici might have had of catching him as he stretched his lead and flew to the wall.
A doping storm has followed China’s swim team to Paris after revelations in April that 23 Chinese athletes had tested positive for a banned heart medication but were allowed to swim at the Tokyo Games. China said the athletes were victims of contamination from a hotel kitchen, and an independent review backed the World Anti-Doping Agency’s handling of the case.
China was then plunged back into the spotlight on Tuesday after the New York Times reported that two swimmers in 2022 had tested positive for a banned steroid but had provisional suspensions lifted when the results were also blamed on contaminated food.
Wenzhou native Pan rose above the acrimony, however, to earn his first Olympic gold medal some five months after winning the world title.
He said he had been tested more than 20 times over the past few months but trod a diplomatic path when asked whether it had affected him.
”The testing was essentially done under all the regulations, so I don’t feel there was any difference or influence,” he said.
Chalmers, the gold medallist at Rio 2016, took his second silver in the event and eighth medal at Olympics, having finished runnerup behind Caeleb Dressel at the Tokyo Games.
Chalmers overcame a back injury before Olympic trials and a change of coach after his former one Peter Bishop was stood down in March after an undisclosed investigation.
”I’ve been swimming the same race plan for the last eight years, and it’s worked pretty well for me. It almost worked well for me. I guess tonight to get a silver medal still was amazing,” said Chalmers.
Popovici, who previously held the world record before Pan took it at Doha, added the bronze to his 200m freestyle gold medal at Paris. — Reuters
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kt comments:
If you're Chinese and should you dare to win you're probably, nay, likely guilty of enhancing drug taking, unlike Wankees like:
Lance Armstrong, Marion Jones, Tyson Gay, wakakaka.
Doping won the Gold Medal.
ReplyDeletePan Zhanle did NOT win the Gold Medal by merit.
Not forgetting Flo-Jo?
ReplyDeletespot on
Delete& don't forget Michael Phelps, an American swimmer, who is the most-decorated athlete in Olympic history with 28 medals, which include a record 23 gold.
DeleteHe had consistently claimed medication usages for his spurious asthma & heart conditions during his Olympic career!
Look at him NOW - now 39 years old, with appearance of a 60 & a surprising claims of cutes of asthma & heart diseases.
There is Zilch, Nadal evidence that Florence Griffith Joyner was ever involved in doping.
DeleteSame with Michael Phelps.
Shame on Ktemoc and fellow travelers for defaming athletes out of their sheet hatred of America.
While there is definitely evidence China simply looked the other way on common doping among their athletes.
Wow…
Delete"There is Zilch, Nadal evidence that Florence Griffith Joyner was ever involved in doping.
Same with Michael Phelps"
Mfer, checks this
Cyber 'Smear': Hackers Publish Olympians' Medical Records
Both Florence Griffith Joyner & Michael Phelps were listed as medication applicants with immunity due to medical conditions!
BTW, do show solid evidences that "China simply looked the other way on common doping among their athletes".
Records from IOC shown that US had more than 6000 cases of doping abuses vis-a-vis less than 50 amongst the Chinese.
Don't just fart ad yr usual self. Back yr farts with proven numbers, not just diarrheas.