2024 Paris Olympic Games: Pan Zhanle’s world record swim greeted by silence and distrust
Kyle Chalmers won silver in the men’s 100m final but it was China’s Pan Zhanle and his world record swim that took gold. It was like if Usain Bolt ran eight seconds. Sadly, he didn't get the respect he deserved.
Pure stunned silence. It’s hard to cheer with your jaw glued to the floor.
On a night when the roof was all but lifted off Las Defense Arena not once, but twice, by French hero Leon Marchand the noise comparison to the final race of the night was stark.
Chinese sprint sensation Pan Zhanle obliterated a world class field and the world record to win the 100m freestyle.
He won by more than a full second. He broke the world record by almost half a second. It was the first world record in the Paris puddle. He destroyed the best sprinters in world swimming with an insane show of speed that left Australia’s own champion - and one of the greatest sprinters of this generation Kyle Chalmers - in his wake.
But the relative silence was deafening.
The looks of shock on faces around the 18,000 seat stadium was a sight to behold. Shared looks of bewilderment.
They had just witnessed the most incredible swim in history.
Imagine if Usain Bolt ran eight seconds. It is that level of unprecedented performance.
The crowd didn’t know how to react. No one did. It was a breath-taking swim that deserved a prolonged standing ovation. But it was a subdued celebration by the crowd.
Which is a shame for Pan Zhanle who has never once been linked to the drug scandals that have enveloped this Chinese swim team.
A victim by association, the world didn’t know how to react to his brilliant swim.
It will be a swim remembered forever.
Relive all the action from day five of the Games with our blog below
Originally published as 2024 Paris Olympic Games: Pan Zhanle’s world record swim greeted by silence and distrust
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