“It’s my first title, but I know it’s only the beginning…” Leaving the water lines at the Hamad Aquatic Center, Pan Zhanle, 19, is not ecstatic. Just a look of satisfaction at a job well done. Four days after his incredible world record in the 100m freestyle (46”80) during the final of the 4x100m freestyle relay won by his Chinese team, the young man became king of the premier event (47”). ’53) ahead of the Italian Miressi (47”72) and the Hungarian Nemeth (47”78) on the round trip of the pool.
No new aquatic explosion, therefore, but a first intercontinental coronation five months and a few drops before the Paris Olympics. It is also in the French capital that the native of Wenzhou, on the shores of the East China Sea, had initially planned to bring down the brand previously owned by the Romanian Popovici.
PAN Zhanle, the record-breaker! After smashing the world record in the 100m freestyle during the 4x100m Relay, he clinches gold in the individual race with a stellar time of 47.53. ????????♂️ #AQUADoha2024 pic.twitter.com/0Mx2OHNQa2
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) February 15, 2024
He himself finds his Qatari adventure astonishing. “I said to myself: swim hard. I was stunned when I saw the time, I didn’t expect it,” he smiled on Sunday. Although he is not necessarily known to the general public, Pan Zhanle does not land on the highest step of the Qatari podium out of nowhere.
The new Asian arrow, initially specialized in… middle distance, won silver in the 4x100m medley relay last year at the Fukuoka Worlds and was already in fifth place in the best times in the 100m freestyle. At the end of last year, he gave an interview to his national television CCTV to explain what he believed to be the reason for his progress.
“The team really focused on scientific research,” he said. But nothing to do a priori with any innuendo of magical products. Just a thorough analysis of the movements. “Every time we notice something that requires adjustment, we analyze it,” he continued. For example, the way my left hand hit the water was good but my right hand wasn’t as good. I noticed it thanks to these video sessions and I was able to improve it. »
The emergence at the top of Pan Zhanle, nicknamed the “flying fish” by the Chinese media, is reshuffling the cards for the Olympic meeting in the Paris La Défense Arena swimming pool. Pan Zhanle was one of the outsiders. Now he has become the target for Popovici, Chalmers or Maxime Grousset… who beat him by a tiny hundredth last year to win world bronze in Japan. Like the other big names in the discipline, the Insep sprinter skipped Doha to continue his preparation. Looking forward to next summer…
