China stands firm with Pan Zhanle after ‘inhuman’ world record led Australian coach to cry foul
Brett Hawke suggested that it was 'not humanly possible' to finish a 100m freestyle race one body length ahead of the next finisher.
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China stands firm with 20-year-old Pan Zhanle after 'inhuman' world record led Australian coach Brett Hawke to cry foul (image via World Aquatics/X)
At the Paris Olympics 2024, swimming fans were resigned to not being able to witness a new world record being set, until Pan Zhanle decided to shatter his own world record in the 100m freestyle. But his efforts were dismissed by Australian coach Brett Hawke, suggesting the possible use of performance enhancers. This controversy has led China to back up their star swimmer.
Brett Hawke suggested that it was ‘not humanly possible’ to finish a 100m freestyle race one body length ahead of the next finisher. His comments suggested that Pan Zhanle was not racing clean. This brought out support from Chinese officials and state media who quashed those allegations. Zhanle, as quoted by The Guardian, revealed that he was being tested every day since he has been in Paris.
Reports came out in April this year, revealing that 23 swimmers from China had tested positive for a banned substance, trimetazidine, in 2021. But they competed at the Tokyo Olympics. However, an investigation by Chinese authorities attributed that contamination from a hotel kitchen was to blame. WADA accepted the findings.
Since then, Chinese athletes had been under intense scrutiny, maybe even contributing to the ‘test everyday‘ situation Pan Zhanle and his fellow national teammates have been subject to. IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency might even up the ante on testing, considering the hue and cry this has generated.
Pan Zhanle could dominate the world of swimming for a while
Pan Zhanle celebrated his 20th birthday today. What a birthday present it would be if he won another medal with his Chinese teammates when they attempt the 4×100 men’s medley final at this Paris Olympics 2024! With that being said, the world of swimming has just woken up to this young phenom.
He has smashed the 100m freestyle world record twice in the space of a few months. But the Wenzhou native is just starting to dominate. For one, his performances in the 200m races suggest his body needs time to build stamina and strength the longer distance demands. If he gets there in a couple of years, he might start to rack up medals as he goes.
He has the physical tools and a grit to win against the odds. If his fellow teammates start to imbibe the same, it could not be long before China dominates the aquatics world without being part of any controversy.
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Joseph Varghese
(2429 Articles Published)