A teenage Chinese swimmer has been accused of cheating by a rival coach after smashing the world record for the men’s 100 metre freestyle at the Olympics. Pan Zhanle, 19, broke his own record by almost half a second as he finished an entire body length ahead of Australian rival Kyle Chalmers in Wednesday’s final.
The incredible effort, which saw Pan clock a time of 46.80 seconds, saw China pick up their first-ever gold medal in the men’s 100 metre freestyle. However, it sparked a furious reaction from Chalmers’ coach Brett Hawke, who accused Pan of setting a record that was ‘not humanly possible’.
Speaking in an Instagram video, Hawke said: “Listen, I’m just going to be honest, I am angry at that swim. I’m angry for a number of reasons. Look, my friends are the fastest swimmers in history, from Rowdy Gaines to Alex Popov and 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. I’m upset right now because you don’t win the 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. 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 the 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.”
It comes after China previously allowed 23 swimmers who tested positive for doping to compete at the last Olympics in Tokyo. Zhanle, however, has never been formally accused, linked with or found guilty of doping himself.
Chalmers was quizzed on Pan’s record-breaking swim after the medal ceremony and made it clear that he did not suspect any foul play, insisting that his Chinese rival deserved to win.
“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,” said Chalmers. “I trust that he deserves that gold medal.”
