Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle's 100m triumph sparks controversy

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

During the Olympic Games in Paris, the 19-year-old Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle astonished the world by setting a new world record in the 100-metre 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 a swimmer achieving such a time. 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, emphasising 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 - stated 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 competeing with Donna Vekić in the final.