PAN ZHANLE’S incredible world record performance in the 100m freestyle has been labelled “not humanly possible” by an irate swimming coach.
The Chinese star, 19, smashed his own record by 0.4 seconds to romp to gold at Paris 2024.
The Mega AgencyPan Zhanle achieved a sensational gold medal[/caption]
BBCThe Chinese star trounced the rest of the field[/caption]
Pan defeated runner-up Kyle Chalmers by more than a second at La Defense Arena.
Following the race, which saw China earn their first ever 100m freestyle medal, Aussie coach and former Olympian Brett Hawke looked to cast doubt on Pan’s incredible performance.
The 49-year-old said on his Instagram Story: “Listen, I’m just going to be honest, I am angry at that swim.
“Look I’m angry for a number of reasons. Look my friends are the fastest swimmers in history from Rowdy Gaines to Alex Popov to Gary Hall Jr, Anthony Irvin and all the way up to King Kyle Chalmers. I know these people intimately, I’ve studied them for 30 years.
“I’ve studied this sport. I’ve studied speed. I understand it. I’m an expert in it, that’s what I do okay.
“I’m upset right now because you don’t win 100 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.
Instagram @hawkebrBrett Hawke talked about Pan’s achievement on his Instagram Story[/caption]
“That’s not real, you don’t beat that field. Kyle Chalmers, David Popovici, Jack Alexy, you don’t beat those guys by one full body length in 100 freestyle.
“That’s not humanly possible okay so don’t sell it to me, don’t shove it down my throat. It’s not real.”
He then added: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Prior to Tokyo 2020, 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a performance-enhancing banned substance.
They were eventually allowed to compete at the Games, after authorities accepted China’s explanation that athletes had consumed contaminated food while staying together at a hotel.
Regardless, Pan was not part of that group.
Silver medallist Chalmers, 26, did not seek to cast doubt on Pan’s achievement.
He said: “I do everything I possibly can to win the race and trust everyone’s doing the same as I am, staying true to the integrity of sport.
“I trust that… he deserves that gold medal.”
GettyPan poses with silver medallist Kyle Chalmers and bronze winner David Popovici[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
