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4 x 100m freestyle relay (M): sensational China snatches world title
The Chinese were impressive. Pan Zhanle broke the world record in the first 100m. The rest of the team did not hesitate and held up superbly against the second-placed Italians and the third-placed Americans. – ()
First torchbearer of the Chinese team crowned world champion, Sunday in Doha, the young 19-year-old swimmer beat the record established by David Popovici two years ago.
First day of competition and first world record at the Doha Swimming World Championships, Sunday February 11. Engaged in the 4x100m relay, Pan Zhanle gave a considerable lead to the Chinese team, ultimately crowned, to the point of beating David Popovici’s mark by six hundredths. The 19-year-old swimmer, silver medalist in the same relay at the previous Worlds in Fukuoka, crossed the line in 46.80 and sent a strong signal five months before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
It is in fact possible to beat the world record for a distance by taking part in a relay in the only case where you are the first relay runner on your team. During the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, Australian Michael Klim captured Alexander Popov’s 100m freestyle record during a relay.
The fact remains that the time established by Pan Zhanle is a big surprise, knowing that he does not have any individual medal at the highest international level in his young career. He is also the first Chinese swimmer to break the world record in the 100m freestyle.
