A time of 46.40 seconds in the 100 metre freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics secured Pan Zhanle a gold medal and a new world record. This performance marked a 0.40-second improvement on his previous record, representing the largest leap in the event since 1976 and the widest margin of victory in this competition since 1928.
Early Competitive Development
Born in 2004 in Wenzhou, China, Pan began his path in competitive swimming at a young age. By 2019, at fifteen, he achieved a win in the 1500 metre freestyle at the Chinese Summer LC Swimming Championships with a time of 15:33.48. His trajectory continued during the 2020 Chinese Olympic Team Trials, where he finished second in the 100 metre freestyle with a time of 48.74 seconds. He further refined his speed throughout 2021, competing at both the Chinese Summer Nationals and the National Games of China, where he clocked a personal best of 48.59 seconds in the 100 metre freestyle.
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Pan made his international debut at the 2021 FINA SC World Championships, participating in multiple freestyle relay events. He gained momentum at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, where he equalled the Chinese national record of 47.65 in the semifinals of the 100 metre freestyle. By the end of 2022, at the FINA SC World Championships in Melbourne, he established himself as an Asian record holder in the short course 100 metre freestyle with a time of 45.77 seconds. In 2023, he broke the 1:45 barrier in the 200 metre freestyle at the Chinese National Championships, becoming the second Chinese male to achieve this feat.
Historical Milestones and Records
During the 2022 Asian Games, held in 2023, Pan became the fifth man in history to complete a long course 100 metre freestyle in under 47 seconds, finishing in 46.97. He also achieved a unique historical milestone by reaching sub-22 seconds in the 50 metre freestyle, sub-47 in the 100 metre, and sub-1:45 in the 200 metre. In early 2024, at the World Championships in Doha, he broke the world record in the 100 metre freestyle with a lead-off leg time of 46.80, surpassing the record previously held by David Popovici.
2024 Olympic Dominance
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Pan anchored the Chinese men's 4x100 metre medley relay team to a gold medal with a finish of 3:27.46. During this relay, he delivered a 45.92 split, the fastest in history, allowing him to overtake competitors from the United States and France. This victory ended the United States' long-standing dominance in the event, which had existed since its inclusion in the Olympic program in 1960. As of February 2024, Pan stands 189.5 cm tall with an arm span of 190.5 cm.
Fast facts
- Born: 2004, Wenzhou, China
- Current 100m freestyle world record: 46.40 seconds
- First to break 22s (50m), 47s (100m), and 1:45 (200m) freestyle
- Height: 189.5 cm
- Arm span: 190.5 cm
- 2024 Olympic 100m freestyle gold medalist
- 2024 Olympic 4x100m medley relay gold medalist
Questions readers ask
What is Pan Zhanle's record in the 100 metre freestyle?
He holds the world record with a time of 46.40 seconds, achieved at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
What historical milestone did he achieve in 2023?
He became the first swimmer in history to clock sub-22 seconds in the 50m, sub-47 seconds in the 100m, and sub-1:45 in the 200m freestyle.
Achievements
- Competed at swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics – men's 100 metre freestyle and Swimming at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100 metre freestyle
- Discipline: competitive swimming
