Pan Zhanle Splits Blistering 46.72 Mixed Medley Relay Anchor

2024 CHINESE NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 8th day of the 2024 Chinese National Swimming Championships saw the mixed medley relay close out the session.

First place went to the Shanghai/Jiangsu/Zhejiang/Ganlu squad comprised of Xu Jiayu (52.69), Qin Haiyang (59.25), Zhang Yufei (56.55) and Yang Junxuan (53.33) who collectively stopped the clock at 3:41.82.

That was the same lineup used when China won gold at last year’s Asian Games with the foursome putting up a new Asian Record of 3:37.73 in Hangzhou:

Although the Zhejiang and Guangdong squad settled for silver in tonight’s race, the team’s mark of 3:44.44 was highlighted by a blistering 46.72 anchor by 19-year-old Pan Zhanle.

Wang Xueer opened in 1:00.16 followed by Qiu Tian‘s breaststroke leg of 1:00.07. Yu Yiting then produced 57.49 to hand it off to Pan who spit 22.11/24.61 en route to his 46.72 final leg.

His time checks in as the 3rd-fastest free split of his young career and ties for the 21st-best split time ever.

Pan Zhanle‘s Top 3 Relay Freestyle Splits

  1. 46.62 – 2023 World Championships
  2. 46.65 – 2023 Asian Games
  3. 46.72 – 2024 Chinese Nationals

Pan’s anchor tonight is symbolic of his entire repertoire of performances at these championships where the world record holder swept the men’s 50m/100m/200m/400m freestyle events.

Pan Zhanle‘s 2024 Chinese National Championships Performances

  • 50m free – 22.06 (21.99 heats)
  • 100m free – 46.97
  • 200m free – 1:45.68
  • 400m free – 3:45.58

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Beginner Swimmer at 25
7 months ago

That picture is epic #PanZhanle #PANGOAT

Fast and Furious
7 months ago

What’s the point in mixing swimmers from four different teams for relays? It’s not even a relay anymore

Greg P
Reply to  Fast and Furious
7 months ago

Never heard of race training?

Fast and Furious
Reply to  Greg P
7 months ago

As in?

Greg P
7 months ago

My Paris men’s 100 free prediction:

🏅 Pan Zhanle

🥈 Kyle Chalmers

🥉 Jack Alexy

Alden
Reply to  Greg P
7 months ago

What do you think of Dressel or Popovici’s chances?

Swordfish
7 months ago

Pan simply swam the mixed medley as a drill since China side would least likely put a male anchor on its roster in the event in the Olympics.

Boz
7 months ago

Chalmers has 10 splits to 46.91. Thats consistency.

David S
7 months ago

Just give him the gold medal now please.
It’s over

Leoyu
7 months ago

On a side note find it fascinating that Pan says Mark Schubert told him to train for the 2IM and stop training the 100 free in 2022. Now he’s not only the best 100 freestyler in the world today but on his way to becoming the best 100 freestyler in history. It just goes to show a few things, one that all these WRs even the men’s 2back, 8free, women’s 2fly will be broken in due time, it takes the right swimmer coupled with the right coaching, event decisions, but it will happen. Second is that we’ve hardly scratched the surface of what the human limit is yet. More than 95% of the worlds population today have no financial ability… Read more »

Martini
Reply to  Leoyu
7 months ago

Hmmmm isn’t he literally the best 100 freestyler in *history* already?

Leoyu
Reply to  Martini
7 months ago

This one’s a bit subjective. Sjostrom has never been world or Olympic champion but holds the WR. Is she a phenomenal 100 freestyler? Yeah. Is she the best in history? Not sure.

Maybe he is, but if Pan adds an Olympic title to the world title and the multiple sub 47s he’s swimming, it would make it less of a debate

Pdp
Reply to  Leoyu
7 months ago

Popov is still way ahead of him. 2 olympic golds and 1 silver, plus WR in shor course AND long course. Pan has many many many miles to cover before been considered one of the “best” ever. Times don’t count

Last edited 7 months ago by Pdp
Sub13
Reply to  Martini
7 months ago

Breaking a WR makes you the fastest in history. Best in history is a bit more subjective and much broader than just a single swim.

Greg P
Reply to  Martini
7 months ago

No.

He’s the FASTEST 100 freestyler in history.

To be the best, one has to include World Records, Olympics gold, World Championship gold, longevity.

Otherwise, Michael Phelps is no longer the best in anything.

Rafael
Reply to  Greg P
7 months ago

Phelps will be the best swimmer for long long time, but soon on individual races he will not hold the best ever, maybe keep the 200im
100 fly dressel might be ahead
200 fly milak
200 free popovici?
400im is marchand to take

But Phelps is a whole ahead because he was for a time the best flyer imer ever at the same time

Leoyu
7 months ago

On a side note find it fascinating that Pan says Mark Schubert told him to train for the 2IM and stop training the 100 free in 2022. Now he’s not only the best 100 freestyler in the world today but on his way to becoming the best 100 freestyler in history. It just goes to show a few things, one that all these WRs even the men’s 2back, 8free, women’s 2fly will be broken in due time, it takes the right swimmer coupled with the right coaching, event decisions, but it will happen. Second is that we’ve hardly scratched the surface of what the human limit is yet. More than 95% of the worlds population today have no financial ability… Read more »

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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