Paris Olympics: Six hundred million Chinese fans slam Kyle Chalmers for allegedly snubbing their star – but the Aussie can PROVE they are wrong
Kyle Chalmers has become the target of shocking attacks on social media from angry Chinese fans who claim Australia’s Zhanle Pan showed “no respect” before and after his dramatic 100m freestyle victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Pan claimed China’s first gold medal in the pool on Thursday morning (AEST) in Paris, setting a new world record and beating the Australian champion.
Speaking to a Chinese news network after the race, Pan lashed out at Chalmers, accusing him of ignoring him after winning silver in the one-sided final.
That led to a storm of protest on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, which has more than 605 million users, according to Statista.
Pan’s video went viral among Chinese fans who attacked Chalmers, even though the Australian can prove he did have a friendly chat with Pan.
‘After I completed the 100m race, I waved to [Kyle] “I called Chalmers, but he didn’t notice me at all,” Pan said in the video, which has been translated into English.
‘Including American swimmer, Alexy [Jack]when we were practicing. Our coach was standing on the platform and he did a somersault.
‘The way he did the somersault, he immediately splashed our coach.
Chalmers had to settle for second place behind Pan’s world record swimming in the 100m freestyle
Pan received waves of support from China, while many of his supporters were unhappy with comments he made about Chalmers
“It just feels like we’re being looked down on as a team. Can I say that here?”
Interviewer: ‘You can say whatever you want.’
“But today I finally beat them all and especially in such a tough group it was just a great race for me to break a world record,” Pan said.
Some comments on the Chinese social media network Weibo defended Pan and attacked Chalmers and Australia as “sore losers”.
“Some Westerners always believe that they are better than others. Instead of taking responsibility for their own mistakes, they would smear others if they lost,” one Weibo user posted.
‘That’s why their countries lose competitiveness and fall behind.’
Chalmers, however, painted a very different picture of what happened when he encountered Pan in the week leading up to their big showdown.
“Pan, the Chinese guy, right before we walked out, he said, ‘You’re my idol and I love, love, love watching you,'” Chalmers said. “So that was a little crazy.”
“Their first Olympic experience is probably almost my gold medal in Rio, so to inspire this next generation of 100 [metre] freestylers and still be able to compete with them a little bit, that’s fun.’
Chalmers was photographed shaking Pan’s hand warmly after they received their medals
The Australian superintendent even posed for a selfie with Pan and bronze medalist David Popovici
Chalmers was also photographed congratulating Pan after the race with a broad smile and a warm handshake, even taking the time to take a selfie with the Chinese star.
Pan also responded to allegations that he was involved in doping to achieve the world record.
Chinese athletes, including 23 swimmers, tested positive for traces of the banned substance metandienone in late 2022 and early 2023. Pan was not named.
On November 3, 2022, they were provisionally suspended and faced a four-year ban. However, an investigation revealed that the results were the result of meat contamination and not doping.
Chinese state security authorities said Australian beef was the source of the problem after they tested imported beef.
Pan’s own post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo has been translated into English
According to Pan, the likelihood of a Chinese athlete in Paris using performance-enhancing drugs is slim due to the large number of tests performed on them.
“Last year I had 29 tests, all negative. This year, from May (championships) to July, we had another 21 tests and again they were all negative,” he said.
‘Today [the day of winning the gold medal]I have already been tested twice (before and after) and am now waiting for the results.
“They have been conducting tests according to strict schedules and following all the rules, to test all of us. So there is nothing to worry about in this matter.”
Chalmers also denied suggestions that Pan had done anything wrong after the race.
“I will do everything I can to win the race and I trust that everyone will do the same as me and stay true to the integrity of the sport,” said the silver medalist.
“I trust that… he (Pan) deserves that gold medal.”