In a thrilling showdown at China's National Swimming Championships, world record holder Pan Zhanle proved he’s more than a sprint specialist – clinching gold in the men’s 400m freestyle with a personal-best time of 3:45.34! 🥇 The 20-year-old star outswam former Olympic champion Sun Yang and top qualifier Fei Liwei in a nail-biting final in Shenzhen.
Pan led early, fell behind at 250m, then pulled off a "last-50m surge" worthy of a Marvel hero 🦸♂️ to snatch victory. "This is a surprise," he admitted post-race, crediting the win as a confidence boost ahead of future competitions.
Meanwhile, Sun Yang – now 32 – showed grace in bronze, joking about racing "youngsters" while embracing his veteran status: "Mentally, I’m still young!" 😄
The excitement didn’t stop there! Li Bingjie smashed her own Asian record in the women’s 400m freestyle, becoming the first Asian woman to break the 4-minute barrier with a blazing 3:59.99. 🔥
With rising stars and legends colliding in the pool, this championship proves China’s swimming future is brighter than a gold medal. ✨
Reference(s):
Pan wins men's 400m freestyle gold at National Swimming Championships
cgtn.com
