“Someone is angry and racist” – Australian coach losing his mind over Pan Zhanle breaking world record yet again doesn’t sit well with fans
Australian coach Brett Hawke losing his mind over Pan Zhanle breaking world record at Paris Olympics 2024 doesn't sit well with fans.
Follow Us
Australian coach Brett Hawke losing his mind over Pan Zhanle breaking world record doesn't sit well with fans (image via Brett Hawke/IG/Open Source/X)
At the Paris Olympics 2024, swimming has brought out some of the most competitive events so far. However, fans expect one or the other athlete to break a record, either World or the Olympics. So far, the water events this time, have only netted a few new Olympic records. That is until a certain 20-year-old Chinese swimmer named Pan Zhanle decided to make his mark. But it seems, some are not thrilled with his achievement, especially Australian coach Brett Hawke.
Former competitive swimmer Brett Hawke had represented his home nation during the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. Apparently, based on that experience and that of coaching since retiring, he took to his Instagram to share his thoughts.
I am angry at that swim. I’m upset right now because you don’t win 100 freestyle by a body length on that field. You just don’t do it. I don’t care what you say. You don’t beat those guys by one full body length in 100 freestyle. That’s not humanly possible, OK, so don’t sell it to me, don’t shove it down my throat. It’s not real.Brett Hawke said on Instagram
His words suggest he was pointing at the possibility of using performance enhancers. Else according to him, Zhanle could not beat his opponents by one body length. He could have some logic as some of the best competitors in the 100m freestyle finish close to each other. But Pan Zhanle beat them by one body length – a scenario unheard of in a race of such a short distance.
Brett Hawke has coached Brazilian Cesar Cielo, who was the first swimmer to break the 47 second mark in the long form. But when he chose to dismiss the fact that it just could have been pure athletic ability, fans did not appreciate it.
Fans come out to troll Brett Hawke for Pan Zhanle comments
Pan Zhanle destroyed his own record set in February of 46.80 to finish with a new world record time of 46.40 at the Paris Olympics 2024. In fact, silver medalist Kyle Chalmers, who Hawke knows, cleared the air that the Chinese star was deserving of the win. But despite that, the swimming coach decided to suggest indirectly about the usage of performance enhancers, which did not sit well with fans.
They took to social media to call out the former Australian swimmer. Many suggested that his comments were motivated based on ethnicity. Check out some of those reactions below:
Pan Zhanle could care less what Brett Hawke has to say. He has been tested extensively just like other Chinese athletes as there were rumors after the Tokyo Olympics. But fans do care about such comments, which take away the glory of the Olympics.
In case you missed:
- Novak Djokovic gives worrying update on knee injury before Paris Olympics Semifinals against Lorenzo Musetti
- WATCH: Iga Swiatek bursts into tears during an interview after a tough loss against Qinwen Zheng
Stay Updated!
Joseph Varghese
(2424 Articles Published)