Latest news with #PanZhanle
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle wins gold No 4 at national meet – despite suffering from cough
Pan Zhanle claimed his fourth gold medal of the Chinese National Swimming Championships on Wednesday, coming first in the men's 100 metres freestyle final – despite suffering from a cough that he said made it hard to talk. The double Olympic champion, who holds the world record in the event, touched the wall in Shenzhen in 47.77 seconds to top the podium, followed by Wang Haoyu in 48.36, while Liu Wudi claimed third in 48.42. After the race, Pan was asked if a recent bout of illness had affected his race. 'I think the main issue is with my stamina,' said Pan, who, before the event started last week, had not competed since November. 'I'll keep working hard.' Pan then cut his post-race media duties short, saying: 'Are we finished? I really can't talk.' With local media reporting a rise in Covid-19 cases in Shenzhen, several Chinese athletes have said they have had a fever in the build-up to their races.
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle wins fourth gold at national meet – despite suffering from cough
Pan Zhanle claimed his fourth gold medal of the Chinese National Championships on Wednesday, coming first in the men's 100 metres final – despite suffering from a cough that he said made it hard to talk. Advertisement The double Olympic champion, who holds the world record in the event, touched the wall in Shenzhen in 47.77 seconds to top the podium, followed by Wang Haoyu in 48.36, while Liu Wudi claimed third in 48.42. After the race, Pan was asked if a recent bout of illness had affected his race. 'I think the main issue is with my stamina,' said Pan, who, before the event started last week, had not competed since November. 'I'll keep working hard.' Pan then cut his post-race media duties short, saying: 'Are we finished? I really can't talk.' Advertisement With local media reporting a rise in Covid-19 cases in Shenzhen, several Chinese athletes have said they have had a fever in the build-up to their races.
South China Morning Post
18-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle wins first race against Sun Yang – but admits to nerves
The Chinese National Swimming Championships have started with a bang as Sun Yang and Pan Zhanle – respectively China's best of a decade ago and the present – raced for the first time, in the men's 400m freestyle. It went the younger man's way as 20-year-old Pan, the reigning Olympic 100m freestyle champion, came home first in Shenzhen late on Saturday in 3:45.34, just ahead of Fei Liwei's 3:45.57 for silver. Sun, 33, who still holds the national 400m record with a time of 3:40.14 set in 2012, had to settle for bronze in 3:47.53. 'He [Pan] is already standing at the highest position an athlete can,' Sun said. 'He has a long future ahead of him, and I hope he can be happy when he competes.' Sun Yang (right) helps Pan Zhanle (centre) with his race number on the podium in Shenzhen. Photo: Xinhua Double Olympic gold medallist Pan is renowned for his speed over shorter distances and has not competed internationally in several months.
Free Malaysia Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Sun Yang to swim at Chinese nationals after doping ban
Sun Yang returned to competition last year after serving a four-year ban for smashing vials of blood during a 2018 doping test. (EPA Images pic) BEIJING : Three-time Olympic champion swimmer Sun Yang will compete at China's national championships this weekend, organisers said, but anti-doping rules mean he cannot qualify for this year's World Championships. Sun, 33, returned to competition last year after serving a four-year ban for smashing vials of blood during a 2018 doping test, the circumstances of which he still disputes. He also served a ban in 2014 after testing positive for a banned substance. China's week-long national championships in Shenzhen are the country's sole qualifying event for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July and August. Sun will be ineligible because the Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) forbids those who have served a doping ban of 12 months or longer from competing for China. There are no such restrictions applied to taking part in China's national championships, where swimmers represent their provinces. The 11-time world champion will face off against Pan Zhanle, the 20-year-old who broke the 100m freestyle record at the Paris Olympics last year on his way to winning gold in that event and the 4x100m medley relay. Sun will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events, with Pan also entered for the 100m, 200m and 400m. Sun blazed a trail for Chinese swimming when he became the country's first male Olympic swimming champion, winning the 400m and 1500m freestyle at the 2012 London Games. As a child, Pan named Sun as his inspiration and the two have never raced each other in competition. In March, Sun finished second in 400m freestyle at the Chinese National Spring Swimming Championships in 3:47.94s – inside the World Championship qualifying standard. Pan, who is more successful at shorter freestyle distances, set a 400m personal best of 3:45.58s at last year's national championships. In the women's events at the China championships will be Zhang Yufei, who was one of the controversial 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine in 2021 but escaped a ban. She won six medals at the Paris Olympics last year in butterfly, freestyle and relay events. Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Pan Zhanle set for Sun Yang showdown as China's Olympic swimming stars head to Shenzhen
A clash of generational leading lights is on the cards when the Chinese National Swimming Championships begin in Shenzhen this weekend, with Pan Zhanle on course to race against Sun Yang. Advertisement Present-day golden boy Pan is poised for his first competition of the year as he aims to follow his show-stealing feats at last year's Paris Olympics. Sun, who made a similar splash when blazing a trail for China at the London 2012 Games, will continue his bid for rehabilitation after serving a ban for anti-doping rule violations. The week-long championships, the country's premier meet, could provide the first meeting in the pool between the veteran three-time Olympic gold medallist and Pan, who has been striving to surpass him since childhood. Asked at the age of 10 about his future goals, Pan, now 20, had said swimming 'faster than Sun Yang is good enough'. Other star names heading to Shenzhen include Zhang Yufei, Qin Haiyang, Tang Qianting and Yu Yiting, for what will be China's sole selection event for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July and August. Races get under way on Saturday. Sun Yang has entered four freestyle events at the Shenzhen meet. Photo: Xinhua Pan is set to be centre of attention after his exploits in Paris. Having already claimed gold in the 100 metres freestyle in a world-record time, he stunned the world again in the men's 4x100m medley relay, producing a remarkable final leg to haul China from third to first and end the United States' decades-long dominance of the discipline. Advertisement He has entered the 50, 100, 200 and 400m freestyle in Shenzhen, raising the possibility of at least one meeting with the 33-year-old Sun, who has been listed for the 100, 200, 400 and 800m freestyle.
