Pan Zhanle (Chinese: 潘展乐, born 4 August 2004) is a Chinese freestyle swimmer, Olympic champion, and current world record holder of the 100 metre freestyle event. In 2023, Pan became the first swimmer in history to have all three achievements of reaching sub-22 seconds in the 50 metre freestyle, sub-47 seconds in the 100 metre freestyle, and sub-1:45 in the 200 metre freestyle. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, he won gold in the 100 metre freestyle, breaking his own world record in the process.
![]() Pan at the 2024 Summer Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National team | China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China | 4 August 2004||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Strokes | Freestyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Zhejiang Province Swim Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
|
Career
editEarly career
editIn 2019 at 15 years old, Pan made his first major competition debut at the 2019 Chinese Summer LC Swimming Championships. He competed in the 1500 metre freestyle, winning with a time of 15:33.48.[1]
At the 2020 Chinese Olympic Team Trials, Pan placed second in the finals of the 100 metre freestyle with a time of 48.74 seconds, finishing just 0.03 seconds behind He Junyi. He also competed in the 200 and 400 metre freestyle events.[1]
In 2021, Pan competed at the Chinese Summer Nationals and National Games of China. In both competitions, he competed in the 50, 100, and 400 metre freestyle events. At the National Games, he finished third in the 100 metre freestyle with a personal best time of 48.59 seconds.[1]
International debut and breakthrough
editAt the age of 17, Pan made his international debut at the 2021 FINA SC World Championships. He swam in the 200, 400, and 800 metre freestyle relay events, helping China place fifth in all three events. Individually, Pan finished eleventh in the semifinals of the 100 metre freestyle.[1]
The following year, Pan finished tied sixth in the 100 metre freestyle at the 2022 FINA SC World Championships in Melbourne. With a time of 45.77 seconds, he became the Asian record holder in this short course event.[1]
In May 2023, Pan competed in the 100 metre long course freestyle at the Chinese National Championships, breaking the Asian record with a time of 47.22 seconds, which was 0.34 seconds faster than the previous record.[2]
Pan first broke the 47-second barrier for the long course 100m freestyle at the 2022 Asian Games (held in 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), where he finished with a time of 46.97 seconds, becoming the fifth man in history to achieve this milestone.[3] During the games, he also became the first swimmer in history to have all three achievements of reaching sub-22 seconds in the 50 metre freestyle, sub-47 seconds in the 100 metre freestyle, and sub-1:45 in the 200 metre freestyle.[4]
On 16 February 2024, Pan won the 100 metre freestyle at the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Qatar. A few days prior, he set a new 100 metre freestyle world record with a time of 46.80.[5]
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Pan won gold in the 100 metre freestyle. With a time of 46.40 seconds, he broke his own world record in the process. His margin of victory, 1.08 seconds, was the largest in this event since the 1928 Olympics, and his 0.40-second improvement on the world record was the biggest leap since 1976.[6] In the men’s 4x100 meters medley final, Pan's performance helped the Chinese team win the gold medal, delivering the first defeat to the United States in this event since it was included in the Olympic program at the 1960 Olympics.[7] As the anchor leg, he entered the water with his team in third place but overtook the swimmers from the United States and France in the final 100 meters, finishing with the fastest split in history in the men’s 100 m freestyle, clocking a 45.92, and securing the winning time of 3:27.46; beating the previous world's fastest split-time set by Jason Lezak's 46.06 anchor leg swim in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics while using the high-tech swimsuit.[7][8][9][10][11]
Physical attributes
editAccording to a Weibo post from Pan on February 29, 2024, his height is currently 189.5 cm, and his arm span is 190.5 cm.[12]
Personal bests
editLong course (50-meter pool)
editEvent | Time | Meet | Date | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
50 m freestyle | 21.92 | 2022 Asian Games | September 25, 2023 | |
100 m freestyle | 46.40 | 2024 Paris Olympics | July 31, 2024 | WR |
200 m freestyle | 1:44.65 | 2023 Chinese National Swimming Championships | May 4, 2023 | |
400 m freestyle | 3:45.58 | 2024 Chinese National Swimming Championships | April 19, 2024 | |
800 m freestyle | 7:59.15 | 2023 Chinese National Swimming Championships | May 5, 2023 | |
1500 m freestyle | 15:33.48 | 2019 Chinese Summer National Swimming Championships | June 14, 2019 | |
50 m butterfly | 25.90 | 2023 Chinese Spring National Swimming Championships | March 19, 2023 | |
100 m butterfly | 1:01.87 | 2019 Asian Age Group Championships | September 25, 2019 | |
200 m individual medley | 2:02.99 | 2020 Chinese National Swimming Championships | October 1, 2020 | |
400 m individual medley | 4:34.40 | 2019 Asian Age Group Championships | September 25, 2019 |
Short course (25-meter pool)
edit- As of July 27, 2023[13]
Event | Time | Meet | Date | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
50 m freestyle | 21.54 | 2022 Chinese National Championships | October 27, 2022 | |
100 m freestyle | 45.77 | 2022 World Championships | December 15, 2022 | AS |
200 m freestyle | 1:42.66 | 2022 Chinese National Swimming Championships | October 29, 2022 | |
100 m individual medley | 53.10 | 2022 Chinese National Swimming Championships | October 27, 2022 |
Key: NR = National Record ; AS = Asian Record
Records
editLong course (50 m)
editNo. | Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Age | Type | Status | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 100 m freestyle | 47.22 | 2023 Chinese Championships | Hangzhou, China | 1 May 2023 | 18 | AS (not ratified) | Former | [14] | |
2 | 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:11.38 (47.67, 1st leg) | 2023 World Aquatics Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | 23 July 2023 | 18 | AS | Former | [15] | |
3 | 4×100m medley relay | 3.29.00 (46.62, 4th leg) | 2023 World Aquatics Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | 30 July 2023 | 18 | AS | Former | [16] | |
4 | 100 m freestyle | 46.97 | 2022 Asian Games | Hangzhou, China | 24 September 2023 | 19 | AS | Former | [17] | |
5 | 4×200m freestyle relay | 7:03.40 (1:44.77, 4th leg) | 2022 Asian Games | Hangzhou, China | 25 September 2023 | 19 | NR | Former | [18] | |
6 | 4×100m medley relay | 3:27.01 (46.65, 4th leg) | 2022 Asian Games | Hangzhou, China | 26 September 2023 | 19 | AS | Current | [19] | |
7 | 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:10.88 (47.06, 1st leg) | 2022 Asian Games | Hangzhou, China | 28 September 2023 | 19 | AS | Current | ||
8 | 100 m freestyle (1st leg) | 46.80 | r | 2024 World Aquatics Championships | Doha, Qatar | 11 February 2024 | 19 | WR, AS | Former | [20] |
9 | 4x200m freestyle relay | 7:01:84 (1:43:90, 3rd leg) | 2024 World Aquatics Championships | Doha, Qatar | 16 February 2024 | 19 | NR | Current | [21] | |
10 | 4x100m mixed freestyle | 3:21.18 (47.29, 1st leg) | 2024 World Aquatics Championships | Doha, Qatar | 17 February 2024 | 19 | AS | Current | [22] | |
11 | 100 m freestyle (1st leg) | 46.92 | r | 2024 Summer Olympics | Paris, France | 27 July 2024 | 19 | OR | Former | [23] |
12 | 100 m freestyle | 46.40 | 2024 Olympic Games | Paris, France | 31 July 2024 | 19 | WR, OR, AS | Current | [24] |
Short course (25 m)
editNo. | Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Age | Type | Status | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 100 m freestyle | 45.77 | 2022 World Swimming Championships | Melbourne, Australia | 15 December 2022 | 18 | AS | Current | [25] |
Key: NR = National Record ; AS = Asian Record ; WJ = World Junior Record; WR = World Record ; h = heats; sf = semifinal ; r = Relay
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Pan Zhanle Bio". SwimSwam. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Swimming: China's Pan Zhanle breaks men's 100m freestyle Asian record". 2 May 2023.
- ^ Race, Retta (24 September 2023). "China's Pan Zhanle Rips 46.97 100 Free As 5th Fastest Performer Ever (Video)". SwimSwam. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Penland, Spencer (25 September 2023). "2023 Asian Games: Day 2 Finals Live Recap". SwimSwam. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Pan swims record 100m as China wins relay gold". ESPN.com. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Pan Zhanle of China breaks own world record to win Olympic gold medal in men's 100-meter freestyle". AP News. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Swimming: China end US reign over men's 4x100 medley relay". Reuters. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ Tansey, Joe. "Olympic Swimming 2024: Men's 4x100M Medley Relay Medal Winners, Times, Results". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Pelshaw, Anya (4 August 2024). "Faster Than Lezak, Pan Zhanle Splits 45.92 100 Freestyle To Anchor China To Gold". SwimSwam. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Crouse, Karen (12 August 2008). "A Swim for the Ages by a Team's Oldest Racer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
Lezak is an enigma wrapped in a high-tech swimsuit. He trains alone but wants to be part of a group in competition. He was second at the United States Olympic trials in the 100-meter freestyle, which he will swim here Tuesday, but has built his reputation in relays... From a rolling start, Lezak covered the first 50 meters in 21.50 and came back in 24.56. His 46.06 was the fastest split ever and 1.3 seconds better than his previous best in a relay. "I'm still in shock," Lezak said. "I don't know exactly how I was able to bring it home that fast."
- ^ Keith, Braden (10 December 2023). "The 'Jason Lezak' Relay Is Now the Oldest World Record in Swimming". SwimSwam. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
The World Record... Grant Hackett's, was set on July 20, 2008, and at 5,621 days, was the oldest FINA/World Aquatics World Record still on the books. So that begs the question – what is the new oldest World Record? That honor now belongs to the US Men's 400 Free Relay World Record of 3:08.24, which was set on August 11, 2008. That record, the famous "Jason Lezak anchor" relay, is 5,599 days old. Besides Lezak, that relay included Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, and Cullen Jones.
- ^ Pan, Zhanle. "my height 189.5". weibo.com. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "FINA personal best results".
- ^ Race, Retta (May 1, 2023). "18-Yr-Old Pan Zhanle Blasts 47.22 100 Free Asian Record (Video)". SwimSwam. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ "Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Men's 4x100m Medley Relay Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results" (PDF). hangzhou2022.cn. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final Results" (PDF). hangzhou2022.cn. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Men's 4x100m Medley Relay Final Results" (PDF). hangzhou2022.cn. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Men's 4x100m Freestyle" (PDF). Omega Timing. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Men's 4x200m Freestyle results" (PDF). 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay" (PDF). 27 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "MEN'S 100M FREESTYLE FINAL RESULTS". Olympics. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
External links
edit- Pan Zhanle at World Aquatics
- Pan Zhanle at SwimRankings.net
- 潘展乐 at Weibo
- Pan Zhanle at instagram