Shenzhen, China—Pan Zhanle, the men’s 100-meter freestyle world record holder, showcased his versatility by clinching gold in the men’s 400-meter freestyle at the National Swimming Championships on Saturday. The event, held in Shenzhen, saw Pan clock a personal-best time of 3:45.34, edging out strong competitors including former Olympic champion Sun Yang and top qualifier Fei Liwei.
Entering the finals with the third-fastest time, Pan took an early lead after the first 100 meters, with Fei closely trailing and Sun in third. Around the 250-meter mark, Fei surged ahead, but Pan made a remarkable comeback in the final 50 meters to reclaim the lead and secure the gold. Fei took silver, while Sun finished with bronze.
“I didn’t expect to win this race,” Pan admitted after the victory. “This is a surprise for me because I haven’t been training systematically for long-distance races recently. This win is definitely a boost for my confidence.”
Sun Yang, a seasoned veteran in the sport, expressed joy in competing alongside the younger swimmers. “I’m really happy to be here, as this event is top-level nationwide,” he said. “I don’t care about winning or losing that much now. My current mentality is to swim for myself and my family. Even though my opponents are a lot younger than me, mentally, I see myself as a young swimmer as well.”
In the women’s 400-meter freestyle, Li Bingjie made history by breaking the Asian record and becoming the first Asian woman to break the four-minute barrier in this event. The 23-year-old dominated the race, touching the wall first in 3:59.99 and improving her own continental mark by over a second.
These outstanding performances highlight the rising talents in Chinese swimming, signaling a promising future on the international stage.
