- Pan Zhanle won gold with an incredible swimming performance in the 100m freestyle
- He set a world record by finishing one second ahead of Chalmers
China’s Pan Zhanle has accused Kyle Chalmers of ignoring him. Chalmers has lashed out at his stunning world record-breaking victory in the men’s 100m freestyle at the Paris Olympics.
The 19-year-old broke his own record by 0.4 seconds to beat Chalmers, who took silver with a thrilling comeback after coming into the corner last – but then somersaulted due to his plans to retire.
‘After we completed the 4x100m freestyle relay on the first day [of the Games] “I greeted Chalmers but he completely ignored me,” Pan said in a statement to Chinese media after his gold-medal swim.
This also included the American team [Jack] Alexis.
‘When we were training, our coach was on the [poolside] on the deck and someone did a somersault and threw water on him.
This behavior seemed quite disrespectful to us.
“But today we beat them all and broke the world record in such a tough group. It was an extraordinary achievement.”
Kyle Chalmers is happy with the silver and believes his Chinese champion is no longer on drugs. The Australian swimming champion was defeated again in Paris to win the Olympic title again.
Gold medalist Pan Zhanle (left) accused Chalmers (right) of ignoring him before setting a stunning world record in the 100m freestyle on Thursday morning
The 19-year-old also claimed he received the same treatment from American swimmer Jack Alexy – and went on to say one of the Chinese coaches was splashed with water in a ‘disrespectful’ act
When asked after the race if he was concerned that Pan’s stunning swim would be affected by rumours of doping by Chinese swimmers, the Australian was clear in his support of his rival.
“I will do everything I can to win the race and I trust that everyone will do the same as me and that I will remain true to the integrity of the sport,” said silver medalist Chalmers.
I trust that…he [Pan] deserves that gold medal.’
The Chinese team has been under heightened scrutiny since revelations that 23 swimmers tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
Pan was not among the group of 23 allowed to compete in Tokyo after international anti-doping authorities accepted China’s explanation that the swimmers had eaten contaminated food in a team hotel.
In Paris, Pan clocked a time of 46.40 seconds, 0.40 seconds faster than his previous time, to win with a time that Chalmers (47.48) described as “crazy”.
The Chinese star set a stunning world record by finishing one second ahead of Chalmers (pictured with his silver medal), but the Australian later said he was confident no doping was involved in the incredible swim.
“It’s a time I never could have dreamed of or thought possible,” Chalmers said.
‘The last 15 meters… I thought I might be last, because he was so far ahead of me.’
Chalmers has now won two consecutive Olympic silver medals, following his gold medal in 2016 in the blue ribbon event.
Fellow countryman Zac Stubblety-Cook also won silver on Wednesday evening in an attempt to defend his men’s 200m breaststroke title.
And it took an Olympic record from French megastar Leon Marchand to beat him.
Stubblety-Cook finished just behind Marchand, who took two gold medals in an hour, amid loud support from his home crowd at the La Defense Arena.
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“It didn’t feel like a swimming competition, it felt like a rugby match… you couldn’t hear yourself think,” Stubblety-Cook said.
Marchand first won the 200m butterfly and then the breaststroke. The Parisian now has three gold medals at the Games in his hometown.
In the women’s 100m freestyle final on Wednesday evening, Australian favourite Mollie O’Callaghan (fourth) and her compatriot Shayna Jack (fifth) missed out on the medals.
“I expected a lot more,” O’Callaghan said.
“But in the end you just have to accept it and wait another four years.”