Shenzhen in Guangdong Province on the Chinese mainland buzzed with excitement this past Saturday as the National Swimming Championships kicked off a series of high-stakes races.
Pan Zhanle, best known as the men's 100m freestyle world record holder, surprised fans by dominating the 400m freestyle final. Clocking a personal-best 3:45.34, the 20-year-old surged to gold in a tight field that included Olympic champion Sun Yang and qualifier Fei Liwei.
Pan led after the first 100 meters, trailed briefly by Fei around the 250-meter mark, then unleashed a powerful finish in the final 50 meters to reclaim the lead. Fei settled for silver and Sun took bronze.
“I didn't expect to win this race,” Pan said. “This is a surprise for me, because I did not go through systematic training for long distance races recently, so I think this victory is definitely a boost for my confidence.”
For Sun Yang, the race was more about passion than podiums. “I'm really happy to be here, as this event is top level nationwide, and I'm happy that I can still swim with the youngsters,” he said. “I don't care about winning or losing that much now, as my current mentality is to swim for myself and my family… mentally, I see myself as a young swimmer as well.”
The women’s 400m freestyle offered its own headline when 23-year-old Li Bingjie shattered the Asian record. Breaking the four-minute barrier with a 3:59.99 finish, she eclipsed her previous mark of 4:01.08 by 1.09 seconds.
Pan’s strategic comeback and Li’s record-breaking swim highlight the mix of youth and experience shaping the future of swimming on the Chinese mainland. These performances resonate far beyond the pool, demonstrating the power of resilience, split-second decision-making, and relentless ambition—qualities that inspire young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and sports fans alike.
Reference(s):
Pan wins men's 400m freestyle gold at National Swimming Championships
cgtn.com
