Pan Zhanle sets record amidst controversy at Olympics 2024

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle broke the world record in the 100 m freestyle. Australian swimming coach Brett Hawke questioned the fairness of his achievement, suggesting that such a result is unattainable for a human.

During the Olympic Games in Paris, 19-year-old Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle astonished the world by setting a new world record in the 100 m freestyle - 46.40 seconds. His achievement amazed fans worldwide. The competitor broke his own record by 0.4 seconds, winning the gold medal.

Australian coach and former Olympian Brett Hawke expressed his dissatisfaction on Instagram, questioning the possibility of achieving such a time by a swimmer. He compared the Chinese swimmer's result with the achievements of other outstanding swimmers, claiming that surpassing athletes like Kyle Chalmers or David Popovici by an entire body length is "not humanly possible."

The coach seemed to suggest that unfair practices might be behind Pan's result, although he provided no evidence for it. Meanwhile, silver medallist Kyle Chalmers did not doubt Pan's achievements, emphasizing trust in the integrity of the sport and the hard work the Chinese athlete put in to win the gold medal.

I’m upset right now because you don’t win 100m freestyle by a body length on that field. You just don’t do it. It is not humanly possible to beat that field by a body length. I don't care what you say. This is not a race thing, this is not against any one particular person or nation, this is just what I see and what I know - wrote Brett Hawke.

Let's add that Pan Zhanle has never failed a doping test.

This is not the first success of Chinese athletes at the Olympic Games in Paris. Tennis player Qinwen Zheng is assured of at least a silver medal, having defeated Iga Świątek in the semifinals, competing with Donna Vekić in the final.