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Faster Than Lezak, Pan Zhanle Splits 45.92 100 Freestyle To Anchor China To Gold

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

MEN’S 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS

  • World Record: 3:26.78 – USA (2021)
  • Olympic Record: 3:26.78 – USA (2021)
  • 2021 Winning Time: 3:26.78 – USA
  • 2021 Time to Win Bronze: 3:29.17

Podium

  1. China – 3:27.46
  2. USA – 3:28.01
  3. France – 3:28.38
  4. Great Britain – 3:29.60
  5. Canada – 3:31.27
  6. Australia – 3:31.86
  7. Germany – 3:32.46
  8. Netherlands – 3:32.52

China’s Pan Zhanle swam the fastest split in history in the men’s 100 freestyle, clocking a 45.92 to anchor the men’s 4×100 medley relay to gold. That surpassed the previous all-time split of a 46.06 that Jason Lezak of the US swam at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to propel the US to gold in the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay.

All-Time Top Relay Splits Men’s 100 Freestyle

  1. Pan Zhanle (China), 45.92 (2024)
  2. Jason Lezak (USA), 46.06 (2008)
  3. Duncan Scott (Great Britain), 46.14 (2019)
  4. Cesar Cielo (Brazil), 46.22 (2009)
  5. Alain Bernard (France), 46.26 (2009)

Like Lezak, Pan notably dove in behind the field tonight as he was 3rd. Pan passed the US on the first 50 and then passed France on the 2nd 50, just as Lezak did in 2008.

Pan is the World Record holder in the men’s 100 freestyle after swimming a 46.40 this week in Paris. That broke his old World Record of a 46.80 that he swam at the 2024 World Championships in February. Pan turns 20 years old today as it is his birthday.

Pan’s previous best relay split was a 46.62 that he swam at the 2023 World Championships.

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Robert
3 months ago

The surreptitious racism and vigilante jealousy for the new guard in this old regime have become the most palpable since the days of Sun Yang.

Last edited 3 months ago by Robert
UUB
3 months ago

What’s the argument with US about? In 1984, US had 21 gold medals, 1988 had 8, 1992 had 11, 1996 13, 2000 14, 2004 12, 2008 12, 2012 16, 2016 16, 2020 11. in 1984, China had 0 gold medals, 1988 had 0, 1992 4, 1996 1, 2000 0, 2004 1, 2008 1, 2012 5, 2016 1, 2020 3. US always has around 10 medals. China still has 1 or 2 medals. What change? US is doing well like always. Why does US have to care about China? US just has to keep on doing what it is doing and it will be fine.

BDD
3 months ago

On a funny note. I love how the interviewer asked him to comment on what it meant to break the US 40 year gold streak in the men’s medley relay and he was like laughing sheepishly and said “do I have to comment? I don’t want to comment”. I don’t think he wants his words to make headlines this time.

He also told Xu to stay more low key, when he started talking about winning the event again next Olympics. He said let our swimming do the talking.

Man has matured so much from 19 to 20 lol.

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  BDD
3 months ago

I knew that the previous comments was a product of misunderstanding and he must have been told by his team to stay away from making comments that may be misconstrued by media.

Terry
3 months ago

“This is not the end, this is just the beginning” – said by Pan on his Weibo

Let’s wait and see what’s the limit of this 20-year-old boy

Time will prove everything

Before the conclusive evidence comes out, we have no reason to doubt him. You may choose not to believe it, but dismissing his achievements as “no humanly possible” without proof is disrespectful and unjust

Congrats, Pan🎉

Joe
3 months ago

And he did it without a supersuit (2008)

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  Joe
3 months ago

And he did it despite being the smallest sprinter in the pool and despite no draft.

This swim is just unbelievable.

You can imagine if an American did it.

Joe
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
3 months ago

Only with a supersuit and draft can be close

BDD
3 months ago

He later wrote on Weibo that this was his 20th birthday present and he fulfilled his promise a year ago to celebrate his birthday with the medley relay gold medal.

Last edited 3 months ago by BDD
team usa
3 months ago

i’ll be waiting for the positive drug test

team asthmarica
Reply to  team usa
3 months ago

Lol

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  team usa
3 months ago

When was Pan tested positive?

dave
3 months ago

so where’s the video of the swim instead of commentary by an excited swim fanboy.

Michael
Reply to  dave
3 months ago

YouTube search 100m freestyle.

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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