Pan Zhanle's world record

Chinese swimmer Zhanle Pan set a new world record in the 100m freestyle at the 2024 Olympics with a time of 46.40 seconds, surpassing his previous record of 46.80. However, this achievement has been shadowed by skepticism and allegations of doping, particularly following revelations that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for banned substances prior to the Tokyo Games. Australian coach Brett Hawke criticized Pan's performance, labeling it 'not humanly possible' to win by such a significant margin against a competitive field. Despite Pan's insistence on rigorous testing and clean competition, the recent doping scandal involving the Chinese swim team has fueled distrust in his victory. Notably, while some competitors express support for Pan, others argue that the scrutiny he faces is influenced by China's past doping issues. The polarizing response to Hawke's comments reflects ongoing tensions in the sport regarding doping allegations and national biases.