PARIS, France: Chinese sports fans celebrated as Pan Zhanle secured China’s first swimming gold at the Paris Olympics.
The 19-year-old set a world-record time of 46.40 seconds in the men’s 100-meter freestyle, surpassing his previous record of 46.80 seconds set in February in Doha.
This victory comes amid ongoing doping allegations involving the Chinese swimming team, with accusations from US authorities suggesting a cover-up by the global governing body.
Social media in China was abuzz with pride and defensive comments. Many fans saw the win as a triumph over foreign skepticism, especially after a video showed Pan feeling snubbed by Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers. Comments like “Your greatness needs no explanation!” and “They’re only fit to trail in your wake!” were common, reflecting the national pride and defiance against the doping allegations.
In April, a New York Times report revealed that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) at domestic competitions in late 2020 and early 2021. However, Pan was not among those named, and Chinese authorities attributed the positive tests to food contamination. This explanation was accepted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), but US anti-doping officials have criticized WADA for allegedly suppressing the facts.
In Beijing, customers watching Pan’s victory expressed strong opinions on the doping allegations. Tech worker Wen Ya, 36, said, “We Chinese are a people with a bottom line, we have conviction. It’s really beneath us to do anything against the rules.” Many echoed her trust in the national coaches and athletes, believing they wouldn’t knowingly break the rules. Chinese swimmers have also claimed that the frequent drug tests have disrupted their preparation and affected their performance.
Social media hashtags related to Pan’s victory garnered over 750 million views by midday Thursday. The live commentary of Pan’s race by former Olympic swimmer Zhao Jing on state broadcaster CCTV became a topic of discussion. Zhao’s enthusiastic and emotional reaction during the final length of the race resonated with viewers, who felt she captured the collective national sentiment.
Despite the doping controversy, Pan Zhanle’s record-breaking performance has become a symbol of national pride and resilience for China, as fans continue to support their athletes amid international scrutiny.
