China’s 19-year-old Pan Zhanle set a new world record in the men’s 100-meter freestyle on Wednesday.
China’s 19-year-old Pan Zhanle was in a class of his own on Wednesday night in the men’s 100m freestyle Olympic final. The youngster became the Olympic champion and at the same time improved the world record in his own name by no less than four tenths of a second to 46.40.
The top names who grabbed the duller medals, Australia Kyle Chalmers and Romania David Popovici, were more than a second behind. Australian swimming coach Brett Hawke found the Chinese’s performance unbelievable.
– It is not possible to. Chalmers, Popovici, Jack Alexy, you can’t beat them with body size. It’s not humanly possible, Hawke comment.
Chinese swimmers are viewed with suspicion due to numerous doping cases. New York Times and the German ARD reported in April that 23 Chinese swimmers were caught with banned substances just a few months before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
In China, the cases were explained in such a way that the prohibited substance had entered the body unintentionally from spoiled food in the kitchen. The anti-doping agency Wada swallowed the explanation, and the athletes did not receive bans.
No fewer than 11 athletes from the Chinese swimming team in Paris were caught with a banned substance more than three years ago.
More carts
Zhanle said that he had undergone 21 doping tests in the period from May to the start of the Games.
– I cooperated with all the testing authorities and remained confident that I would compete fairly and cleanly, Pan said.
China won three bronze medals in Paris Zhang Yufei defended Zhanle at a press conference on Thursday.
– Why are Chinese swimmers questioned when they swim hard? Why no one dared to question Michael Phelps when he won? Yufei said, referring to the most successful swimmer and athlete in Olympic history.
New York Times revealed on Tuesday that two Chinese swimmers, Tang Muhan and He Junyi, pleaded guilty to doping in 2022, but they were allowed to continue competing. Chinese officials claimed the outbreaks were caused by hamburgers containing tainted meat imported from Australia.
China’s anti-doping agency CHINADA severely criticized the American magazine on Thursday. According to the office, the goal of the New York Times is to disrupt the Paris Swimming Games and weaken the competitiveness of Chinese swimmers.
Director of the United States Anti-Doping Agency Travis Tygart in turn annoyed the Chinese and Wada.
– This and the previous 23 Chinese cart… they have stolen the dreams of pure athletes. A huge amount of evidence shows that the system has failed, Wada has accepted that China plays by its own rules and the public is losing faith in the values of the Olympics, Tygart said.
The coach got wet
There were also tensions in the pool. Zhanle said in Wednesday’s post-race interview that Chalmers was rude to him after the 4x100m relay.
– I tried to greet him, but he just passed me, Zhanle said and also said that Jack Alexy had behaved disrespectfully during the rehearsals.
– Our coach was standing next to the pool when Alexy splashed water on him. I think he was arrogant towards us.
Chalmers dismissed Zhanle’s speech as “a bit strange”.
– I gave him a fist salute before the message. Then I focused on my teammates and the race. We laughed together yesterday in the final warm-ups. I don’t have any problems.