China's Pan smashes own 100m freestyle world record for gold | NBC Olympics
China's Pan Zhanle smashes the 100m freestyle world record on his way to the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
On Wednesday at the Paris Olympics, China's Pan Zhanle broke his own 100m freestyle world record, claiming an astonishing gold medal and leaving a field of champion competitors in his wake. The 19-year-old's time of 46.40 seconds was an incredible improvement of 0.40 seconds over his previous record set at the Doha World Championships in February, where he first gained international attention with a remarkable relay leadoff swim.
Pan's victory was emphatic, finishing a full 1.08 seconds ahead of Australia's silver medalist, Kyle Chalmers. David Popovici of Romania took bronze, a further 0.01 seconds back. Pan wasted no time, blasting off the blocks and covering the first 50 meters in an astonishing 22.28 seconds.
The Chinese star left Chalmers and Popovici in his wake, extending his lead and powering to the wall to claim his first Olympic gold medal, adding to his world title from five months prior. Chalmers, the Rio 2016 gold medalist, added a second silver in the event to his collection, having finished behind Caeleb Dressel in Tokyo. Popovici, who held the world record before Pan's takeover in Doha, took bronze in the 100m freestyle to go with his 200m freestyle gold medal in Paris.
Pan's victory was emphatic, finishing a full 1.08 seconds ahead of Australia's silver medalist, Kyle Chalmers. David Popovici of Romania took bronze, a further 0.01 seconds back. Pan wasted no time, blasting off the blocks and covering the first 50 meters in an astonishing 22.28 seconds.
The Chinese star left Chalmers and Popovici in his wake, extending his lead and powering to the wall to claim his first Olympic gold medal, adding to his world title from five months prior. Chalmers, the Rio 2016 gold medalist, added a second silver in the event to his collection, having finished behind Caeleb Dressel in Tokyo. Popovici, who held the world record before Pan's takeover in Doha, took bronze in the 100m freestyle to go with his 200m freestyle gold medal in Paris.