Shenzhen, Guangdong Province – In a thrilling showdown at the National Swimming Championships on the Chinese mainland, Pan Zhanle made waves by clinching the men's 400m freestyle gold with a personal best time of 3:45.34. Despite finishing third in the preliminaries, this 20-year-old sensation led the first 100 meters and surged in the final 50 to claim victory over seasoned contenders, including former Olympic gold medalist Sun Yang. 💦
Pan admitted, "I didn't expect to win this race," highlighting that this surprising win has boosted his confidence even without rigorous long-distance training recently.
Adding to the excitement, the women's 400m freestyle saw Li Bingjie break the four-minute barrier by smashing the Asian record with a stunning 3:59.99, shaving over a second off her previous mark.
This dynamic performance not only underscores the fierce competition at a national level but also inspires young athletes across the region to push beyond limits and embrace every challenge. Keep diving into your dreams, folks! 🚀
Reference(s):
Pan wins men's 400m freestyle gold at National Swimming Championships
cgtn.com
