https://www.scmp.com/rss/519419/feed The latest news on Pan Zhanle, Chinese freestyle swimmer and Olympic champion, including competition news and updates. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ada Li Ada Li Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey missed out on the women’s 100m breaststroke A final at the China Open on Saturday, after finishing ninth overall in the event. The Olympic medallist clocked 1:09.87 in the heats, which left her outside the top-eight spots for the main final. Haughey competed in the B final, finishing in 1:08.12, a solid showing for a swimmer who normally focuses on freestyle. Earlier in the China Open, Haughey won the 50m and 100m freestyle at the Longgang Universiade Centre... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347444/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-misses-out-main-final-china-open-yu-zidi-sets-new-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347444/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-misses-out-main-final-china-open-yu-zidi-sets-new-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:35:16 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Siobhan Haughey won women’s 100m freestyle gold by the narrowest of margins, Tang Qianting shattered her own Asian record twice in a matter of hours and there was more glory for teen sensation Yu Zidi on the opening day of the China Open Swimming Championships. Returning to the site of her National Games glory in Shenzhen, Haughey led from start to finish to beat Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan by a hundredth of a second on Thursday, touching the wall at Longgang Universiade Centre Natatorium in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3347155/tang-breaks-own-womens-50m-breaststroke-asian-record-haughey-chasing-100m-freestyle-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3347155/tang-breaks-own-womens-50m-breaststroke-asian-record-haughey-chasing-100m-freestyle-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:10:07 +0000 Ambrose Li,Paul McNamara Ambrose Li,Paul McNamara The National Games has been more than a first for co-hosts Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau; it has also marked the emergence of the stars of the future. And as well as the passing of the physical torch from the Greater Bay Area to Hunan, which will stage the 2029 Games, there was the passing of the metaphorical one between generations. While the likes of Ma Long and Sun Yang, and even Pan Zhanle, grapple with the fading of their powers, those who will replace them have been stealing the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3333742/national-games-new-generation-stars-set-shine-asian-games-olympics-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3333742/national-games-new-generation-stars-set-shine-asian-games-olympics-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 23:00:30 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan For the past decade, Siobhan Haughey has spent a lot of time in the spotlight as the city’s star of the pool, but she is not the only swimmer making waves at the National Games. Ian Ho Yentou grabbed his share of headlines on Sunday, storming to the men’s 50m freestyle gold in Shenzhen by winning the final that also included China’s Olympic star Pan Zhanle. Ho’s success marked the first time a Hong Kong men’s swimmer has won a gold medal at the multi-sports games in China. And what is just as... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333203/hong-kongs-ian-ho-reflects-becoming-first-male-swimmer-win-gold-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333203/hong-kongs-ian-ho-reflects-becoming-first-male-swimmer-win-gold-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:30:13 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing and swimmer Ian Ho Yentou added two more gold medals to Hong Kong’s already historic National Games tally on Sunday, and the only surprise is that there was not a third. Cheung Ka-long’s uncharacteristic meltdown in the semi-finals of the men’s individual foil event meant the two-time Olympic champion had to settle for bronze. Still, the city’s triathletes had earlier grabbed silver in the mixed relay race, and with Siobhan Haughey having two cracks at gold on Monday... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333007/lee-ho-power-hong-kong-golden-heights-national-games-haugheys-double-shot-glory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333007/lee-ho-power-hong-kong-golden-heights-national-games-haugheys-double-shot-glory?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 15:31:26 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball For once on Sunday, Siobhan Haughey was not the main focus of Hong Kong’s success in the swimming pool – Ian Ho Yentou grabbed that spotlight and shone it firmly on himself. The 28-year-old produced a scintillating performance to take National Games gold in the men’s 50 metres freestyle in Shenzhen, setting a city record and consigning China’s Olympic star Pan Zhanle to the role of also-ran. Ho’s time of 21.71 seconds bettered the 21.83 he produced at the World Aquatics Championships in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3333003/national-games-ian-ho-gold-first-hong-kongs-men-haughey-reaches-2-50m-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3333003/national-games-ian-ho-gold-first-hong-kongs-men-haughey-reaches-2-50m-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 14:46:43 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The National Games have long been billed as a proving ground for China’s new wave of athletes as the competition cycle gears up for the next Olympics, and for rising star swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo, this year’s event has become a definitive coronation. The 15th edition of the National Games has seen the 18-year-old from Shandong sweep three major gold medals so far, including the men’s 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events, as he establishes dominance in the middle- and long-distance categories,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3332929/national-games-3-races-still-go-zhang-zhanshuo-can-already-be-crowned-swim-king?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3332929/national-games-3-races-still-go-zhang-zhanshuo-can-already-be-crowned-swim-king?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:00:10 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey said she had room for improvement after reaching the 200 metres freestyle final at the National Games with the second fastest time overall in the semis on Wednesday. Making her debut at the multi-sport extravaganza, four-time Olympic medallist Haughey progressed safely through her heat in the morning in Shenzhen. She then sliced more than two seconds off her heat time in the evening, clocking one minute and 56.73 seconds to finish second in the second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332543/national-games-siobhan-haughey-seeks-progress-200-metres-freestyle-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332543/national-games-siobhan-haughey-seeks-progress-200-metres-freestyle-final?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:13:20 +0000 Wynna Wong,Tom Bell Wynna Wong,Tom Bell The National Games’ swimming events began in Shenzhen on Monday with a highly anticipated clash of generations between Pan Zhanle and Sun Yang – but both were put in the shade by a rising star. Pan and Sun, two of China’s most talked-about swimmers of recent years, earned places in men’s 400 metres freestyle final, but neither mounted a challenge for the podium and it was 18-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo who took gold, in record-breaking fashion. Zhang clocked three minutes and 42.82 seconds to smash... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332244/national-games-zhang-18-upstages-pan-zhanle-sun-yang-pan-wins-relay-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332244/national-games-zhang-18-upstages-pan-zhanle-sun-yang-pan-wins-relay-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 13:44:29 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Three days ahead of his 20th birthday, Pan Zhanle of China produced a swim at the Paris Olympics that catapulted him to Olympic gold and international attention. Pan smashed his own world record in the 100m freestyle, his time of 46.40 seconds at Paris La Defense Arena destroying his previous best of 46.8. What made Pan’s world record all the more impressive was that it came in one of what swimming experts throughout the Games said was a notoriously “slow pool”, evidenced by race times and the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332095/national-games-will-china-star-pan-zhanle-return-world-record-form-or-finish-year-flop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332095/national-games-will-china-star-pan-zhanle-return-world-record-form-or-finish-year-flop?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:15 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer On November 9, 73 teams and more than 20,000 athletes representing China’s provinces, municipalities and regions will descend on Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong to take part in the 15th National Games. Often referred to as the country’s Olympics, the Games were first held in Beijing in September and October 1959 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Over the decades, the Games have undergone other significant changes. The first four editions were... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331939/powerhouse-provinces-rundown-teams-dominate-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331939/powerhouse-provinces-rundown-teams-dominate-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 02:00:12 +0000 Lars Hamer,Mike Chan Lars Hamer,Mike Chan The National Games bring together the best and brightest from across China for weeks of competition, some of which have been said to be tougher than the Olympics. Whether you agree with that or not, there can be no argument that several of the world’s top sportsmen and women will be battling it out in the pool, on the court and right across the Greater Bay Area for individual and team glory. Jointly co-hosted for the first time by Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong, here is everything you need to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3331993/all-you-need-know-about-national-games-where-some-worlds-best-come-play?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3331993/all-you-need-know-about-national-games-where-some-worlds-best-come-play?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:18 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li China’s top internet regulator has launched a sweeping campaign to clean up social media for the National Games. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on Tuesday announced its “Clean and Bright: Online Environment Rectification” campaign, targeting issues such as doxxing – the leaking of personal information of athletes, coaches and referees. It is also aimed at fan-led smear campaigns and conflicts that the CAC said could “disrupt preparations or disrupt the smooth operation of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3331581/china-moves-keep-toxic-fan-culture-social-media-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3331581/china-moves-keep-toxic-fan-culture-social-media-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 04:51:09 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer A child prodigy, world record holders, Olympic medallists and world champions mean that swimming at the National Games is set to be one of the hottest tickets going. The sport is set to be dominated by mainland Chinese swimmers, with Hong Kong possessing only one contender who can boast the above status: four-time Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey. The 27-year-old has previously stated that she does not know whether she will compete at international level next year, and success is far from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3329431/beyond-siobhan-haughey-hong-kongs-best-bets-chinas-top-threats-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3329431/beyond-siobhan-haughey-hong-kongs-best-bets-chinas-top-threats-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 01:00:19 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China’s best young swimmers have staked their claims for places at the National Games with impressive showings at the National Swimming Championships in Chengdu. On Friday, 18-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo broke the world junior record in the men’s 400 metres freestyle as he clocked in at three minutes and 42.99 seconds to win the event. Liu Peixin was well behind in 3:49.44, but still won silver, while Li Chengyu got bronze in 3:51.52, with the mainland selectors using this event to pick swimmers for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324591/china-teen-zhang-stakes-national-games-claim-junior-world-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324591/china-teen-zhang-stakes-national-games-claim-junior-world-record?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Sep 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell China’s 12-year-old sensation Yu Zidi had to settle for fourth on the final night of the World Aquatics Championships on Sunday as Summer McIntosh capped a brilliant few days to win the women’s 400 metres individual medley. McIntosh’s fourth gold in Singapore made the 18-year-old Canadian only the third swimmer to win five individual medals at one edition, emulating Michael Phelps and Sarah Sjostrom. It came on a day when Pan Zhanle suffered further disappointment, as China failed to reach the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320608/yu-zidi-close-medal-again-mcintosh-us-women-rule-swimming-worlds-final-night?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320608/yu-zidi-close-medal-again-mcintosh-us-women-rule-swimming-worlds-final-night?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:24:50 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell Pan Zhanle suffered more disappointment at the World Aquatics Championships on Sunday, when China failed to reach the men’s 4x100 metres medley relay final – the event in which he shocked the world at the Olympics. The heroics of Pan on the final freestyle leg at the Paris Games last August had ended a decades-long American monopoly in this discipline. But on Sunday morning in Singapore, a repeat proved beyond a team that included Pan and China’s other leading light, Qin Haiyang, who was also in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320587/pan-zhanle-cant-repeat-olympic-relay-victory-over-us-yu-zidi-12-has-medal-chance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320587/pan-zhanle-cant-repeat-olympic-relay-victory-over-us-yu-zidi-12-has-medal-chance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 08:19:15 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau China’s Qin Haiyang returned to winning ways on Friday night as he stormed home to victory in the 200 metres breaststroke from lane eight at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Qin clocked a time of two minutes and 7.41 seconds, some two seconds off the world record time he set in Fukuoka in 2023, but enough to win his second gold medal at the championships. “Have you heard of the lane eight miracle? You saw it tonight,” said Qin of his victory. He was the only finalist to qualify... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3320498/world-aquatics-championships-qin-haiyang-bags-200m-breaststroke-gold-lane-8-miracle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3320498/world-aquatics-championships-qin-haiyang-bags-200m-breaststroke-gold-lane-8-miracle?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:24:41 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Swimming prodigy Yu Zidi has won her first medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, despite not swimming in the final of the women’s 4x200metres freestyle relay on Thursday. The 12-year-old competed in the morning heats, helping China qualify third fastest, and then watched from the side of the pool as her teammates took bronze in a time of seven minutes, 42.99 seconds. Australia claimed gold in 7:39.35, with the USA second in 7:40.01. “It feels quite emotional, it’s a nice... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320330/world-aquatics-championships-chinas-women-claim-relay-bronze-yu-gets-first-medal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3320330/world-aquatics-championships-chinas-women-claim-relay-bronze-yu-gets-first-medal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:11:04 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Beijing has been chosen as the host city for the 2026 edition of the short-course world swimming championships, it was revealed on Tuesday. More than 1,000 athletes from over 200 countries and regions will descend on China’s capital for the six-day competition, according to an announcement at the World Aquatics General Congress in Singapore. The annual championships, held in a 25-metre pool, will take place three years before Beijing hosts the World Aquatics Championships, contested in an... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319953/pan-zhanle-predicts-amazing-support-beijing-named-host-swimming-worlds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319953/pan-zhanle-predicts-amazing-support-beijing-named-host-swimming-worlds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:43:59 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Qin Haiyang claimed China’s first gold medal in swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Monday, winning the men’s 100 metres breaststroke. And in the women’s 200m individual medley final, China’s swimming prodigy, the 12-year-old Yu Zidi, finished fourth and missed out on a bronze medal by 0.06 seconds. Qin’s medal and Yu’s impressive performance were silver linings in what was a largely disappointing day for Chinese swimmers, as big names missed out on podiums and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3319886/world-aquatics-championships-qin-haiyang-wins-chinas-first-swim-gold-100m-breaststroke?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3319886/world-aquatics-championships-qin-haiyang-wins-chinas-first-swim-gold-100m-breaststroke?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:18:41 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Pan Zhanle of China said he was “not sure what happened” after crashing out in the heats of the 200 metres freestyle at swimming’s world championships in Singapore on Monday. Pan, the 100m freestyle Olympic champion and world record holder, finished only 22nd fastest in one minute, 47.46 seconds to miss out on the top 16 who qualify for the semi-finals. “I felt OK yesterday but today’s swim felt completely different,” said Pan, whose time was way outside his 200m best of 1:44.65. “I’ll have to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3319837/chinas-pan-zhanle-not-happy-after-shock-exit-world-aquatics-championships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3319837/chinas-pan-zhanle-not-happy-after-shock-exit-world-aquatics-championships?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 08:57:41 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Chinese 12-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi could be the brightest young star at this year’s world championships after producing a string of eye-popping performances in the past week. Yu, in her striking “doggy” swim cap, rounded off a sensational China national swimming championships in Shenzhen by winning the women’s 400 metres individual medley by almost two seconds on Saturday. Roared on by packed crowds in the southern city, which borders Hong Kong, Yu crushed a quality field in a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3311706/chinas-12-year-old-swimming-star-yu-zidi-set-singapore-after-stunning-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3311706/chinas-12-year-old-swimming-star-yu-zidi-set-singapore-after-stunning-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 May 2025 05:50:20 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer 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... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3311273/chinese-swimmer-pan-zhanle-wins-fourth-gold-national-meet-despite-suffering-cough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3311273/chinese-swimmer-pan-zhanle-wins-fourth-gold-national-meet-despite-suffering-cough?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 13:40:56 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey rounded off the first leg of the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour in Monaco on Sunday with her second gold medal in as many days, winning the 100 metres freestyle. Haughey finished in 53.58 seconds, just ahead of Milou van Wijk, the world relay gold medallist from the Netherlands, who clocked in at 53.76. Italy’s Sara Curtis rounded off the podium with a time of 54.69. Four-time Olympic medallist Haughey was more than 1.5 seconds slower than her best time of last year, 52.33,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3310856/siobhan-haughey-notches-second-win-mare-nostrum-swim-tour-monaco?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3310856/siobhan-haughey-notches-second-win-mare-nostrum-swim-tour-monaco?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 May 2025 03:03:25 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer 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,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3310807/chinese-swimmer-pan-zhanle-wins-first-race-against-sun-yang-admits-nerves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3310807/chinese-swimmer-pan-zhanle-wins-first-race-against-sun-yang-admits-nerves?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 May 2025 10:15:09 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer 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. 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... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3310362/pan-zhanle-set-sun-yang-showdown-chinas-olympic-swimming-stars-head-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3310362/pan-zhanle-set-sun-yang-showdown-chinas-olympic-swimming-stars-head-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 May 2025 00:30:10 +0000 Data released this month by World Aquatics has confirmed the extent to which China’s swimmers were subject to anti-doping measures last year, with the top 32 most tested athletes all being Chinese. The full figures for tests carried out in 2024 on more than 1,500 athletes, updated on February 4 and disclosed by the governing body’s Aquatics Integrity Unit, follows a build-up to last year’s Paris Olympics in which Chinese swimmers were chosen for testing twice as much as their rivals. World... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3298523/32-most-drug-tested-swimmers-globally-2024-were-all-chinese-data-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3298523/32-most-drug-tested-swimmers-globally-2024-were-all-chinese-data-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Feb 2025 08:39:54 +0000 Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle said foreign athletes at the Paris Olympics “acted like they didn’t care about medals” but had a “breakdown” when they saw Chinese rivals atop the podium. Pan, the world record holder and Olympic champion in the men’s 100 metres freestyle, said he had to use his win to make people recognise that any athlete could win fairly and cleanly. The 20-year-old made history in the French capital with his exploits in the pool, but the Chinese team arrived on the back of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3289445/pan-zhanle-says-rivals-didnt-care-about-olympic-medals-had-breakdown-china-golds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3289445/pan-zhanle-says-rivals-didnt-care-about-olympic-medals-had-breakdown-china-golds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:08 +0000 World record holder Pan Zhanle is still struggling to come to terms with his new-found fame, three months after winning gold for China at the Paris Olympics. Speaking after winning the 100 metres freestyle at the Swimming World Cup in Singapore on Friday – his first competition since winning Olympic gold in the same event – Pan said he did not think he would ever get used to being one of his country’s biggest stars. The world’s fastest swimmer also said he hoped the Chinese fans who came to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3284942/swimming-world-cup-ill-never-get-used-being-star-says-olympic-champion-pan-zhanle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3284942/swimming-world-cup-ill-never-get-used-being-star-says-olympic-champion-pan-zhanle?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Nov 2024 04:00:10 +0000 China’s swimmers have formed a strong bond with their Hong Kong counterparts at the Swimming World Cup, with Zhang Yufei celebrating her friendship with “the one who gives gifts” and Pan Zhanle suggesting he would like to form a relay team with the city’s swimmers. Hong Kong sent 20 swimmers to compete across the Shanghai, Incheon and Singapore legs of the competition, which started on October 18 and ends on Saturday, with athletes as young as 15 competing in finals alongside China’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3284928/swimming-world-cup-pan-zhanle-suggests-forming-relay-team-includes-hong-kongs-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3284928/swimming-world-cup-pan-zhanle-suggests-forming-relay-team-includes-hong-kongs-best?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Nov 2024 08:00:14 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Double Olympic gold medal winner Pan Zhanle says he struggled to get tickets for his family at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Shanghai this weekend and had to call on friends to help him get them. Speaking after competing in the men’s 100 metres individual medley on Friday night at the SPD BANK Oriental Sports Centre, Pan told the media his parents were also not in attendance at the Paris Olympics when he smashed the 100m freestyle record in 46.40 seconds. Pan placed eighth in Friday... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3283052/world-aquatics-swimming-world-cup-getting-tickets-family-struggle-pan-zhanle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3283052/world-aquatics-swimming-world-cup-getting-tickets-family-struggle-pan-zhanle?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Oct 2024 09:23:58 +0000 Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey and three of China’s finest will be among a host of Olympic champions and world-record holders competing in the three-leg World Aquatics Swimming World Cup this month. Pan Zhanle, Qin Haiyang and Zhang Yufei of China will be joined by France’s Leon Marchand in the short-course series, to be staged in Shanghai on October 18 to 20, Incheon from October 24 to 26 and Singapore on October 31 to November 2. Marchand, who this year won four golds at his home Olympics in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3281582/siobhan-haughey-pan-zhanle-zhang-yufei-confirmed-star-studded-swimming-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3281582/siobhan-haughey-pan-zhanle-zhang-yufei-confirmed-star-studded-swimming-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Oct 2024 11:48:09 +0000 This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Download our app to get faster notifications. Sixty-five mainland Chinese athletes from the nation’s Olympic team arrived in Hong Kong around noon on Thursday for a three-day visit, fresh from bagging 40 gold medals at the Paris Games. Diving superstar Quan Hongchan, controversial record-breaking swimmer Pan Zhanle and table tennis legend Ma Long, as well... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3276310/mainland-china-olympic-stars-set-shine-rousing-hong-kong-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3276310/mainland-china-olympic-stars-set-shine-rousing-hong-kong-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Aug 2024 03:35:00 +0000 Chinese President Xi Jinping met the country’s Olympic heroes at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, and praised them for their performance and sportsmanship throughout the Paris Games. Xi said the athletes had “won glory for the country and people”, and told an audience including the likes of gold-winning swimmer Pan Zhanle, gold-carrying diver Quan Hongchan and Zheng Qinwen, who took home gold in singles tennis, to continue striving for success to further establish China as a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3275243/china-president-xi-praises-olympians-winning-glory-country-and-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3275243/china-president-xi-praises-olympians-winning-glory-country-and-people?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:46:45 +0000 The Olympic Games mean different things to different people. Which country has done best in the games also depends on how you count the medals. Where gold medals are concerned, China’s performance in the Paris Olympics is doubtless its best since 2008. This year, it tied with the US in gold medals, recording the most golds medals it has ever won at a Summer Olympics away from home. China maintained its dominant position in table tennis and diving, while also performing well in swimming and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3274583/how-achieve-olympic-success-china-offers-some-answers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3274583/how-achieve-olympic-success-china-offers-some-answers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Aug 2024 01:30:17 +0000 Two of China’s biggest stars at the Paris Olympics are struggling to cope with obsessive fan culture, finding themselves regularly mobbed at airports, hotels and in their hometowns. A video of diving sensation Quan Hongchan has gone viral on China’s Instagram-like platform, Xiaohongshu, with users expressing anger at fans for surrounding the 17-year-old at an airport, despite her being uncomfortable with the situation. Swimmer Pan Zhanle, who won two golds and a silver in Paris, even said he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/buzz/article/3274285/china-olympic-hero-pan-would-swap-gold-quiet-life-quan-hongchan-besieged-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/buzz/article/3274285/china-olympic-hero-pan-would-swap-gold-quiet-life-quan-hongchan-besieged-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Aug 2024 05:40:02 +0000 China’s new swim sensation Pan Zhanle cannot wait to get home to spend time with his sheep, his grandfather said. The 20-year-old won two gold medals and broke his own world record in the 100 metres freestyle in Paris to become a national idol and social media favourite. But his paternal grandfather, who lives in a tiny village in Zhejiang province, said Pan prefers the quiet. “He actually likes rural life,” Pan Bohou told local media. “Every time he visited me in the past, I hardly noticed him... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273512/paris-olympics-china-star-pan-zhanle-excited-get-back-see-sheep-says-grandfather?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273512/paris-olympics-china-star-pan-zhanle-excited-get-back-see-sheep-says-grandfather?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Aug 2024 06:00:12 +0000 Allegations of doping in swimming are hardly new, and Pan Zhanle’s achievements in the 100m were bound to raise eyebrows. That they have been questioned was to be expected given the atmosphere surrounding the sport. The latest to take a swipe is Great Britain’s Adam Peaty, competing in what is almost certainly his last Summer Games. A triple Olympic gold medallist, he fell just two hundredths of a second shy of grabbing a fourth in Paris and then watched his team miss out on a medal in the 4x100... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273476/paris-olympics-who-adam-peaty-gold-medallist-accusing-china-swimmers-cheating?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273476/paris-olympics-who-adam-peaty-gold-medallist-accusing-china-swimmers-cheating?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2024 21:00:10 +0000 American swimming legend Michael Phelps said it would be wrong to “point the finger” at Pan Zhanle following the Chinese teenager’s devastating Olympic gold medal swim last week. Pan smashed his own world record to win 100 metres freestyle gold in Paris, but immediately found himself under fire from critics questioning the legitimacy of the 19-year-old’s 46.40 seconds effort. Phelps was one of those who appeared to cast doubt on Pan when he said he “couldn’t understand” how the teenager sliced... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273328/american-legend-phelps-will-not-point-finger-china-olympic-hero-pan-zhanle-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273328/american-legend-phelps-will-not-point-finger-china-olympic-hero-pan-zhanle-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2024 01:46:03 +0000 Pan Zhanle soared to the top trending charts on social media again on Monday after the China swim team made history by ending the United States’ dominance of the 4x100m medley relay to take gold. Pan produced another stunning swim in the Paris La Defense Arena to receive the best 20th birthday gift he could imagine. Starting the final leg in third place, 0.75 seconds behind the leading French team, Pan stormed past his rivals in the final 25m, clocking 45.92 in his leg with a reaction time of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273203/pan-zhanle-birthday-boy-china-end-us-64-year-unbeaten-run-4x100m-medley-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273203/pan-zhanle-birthday-boy-china-end-us-64-year-unbeaten-run-4x100m-medley-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:30:14 +0000 Olympic swimming star David Popovici said he had no issues with Pan Zhanle’s “amazing” world-record shattering performance in the 100 metres freestyle final. Popovici, who claimed bronze in the race two days after winning 200m freestyle gold, noted, however, that “doping scandals around the world … are mostly centred around a few countries”. Some Chinese swimmers in Paris have aired frustration over consistently being smeared by doping accusations. Breaststroker Qin Haiyang said he suspected... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273046/paris-olympics-200m-champion-popovici-says-pan-world-record-amazing-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273046/paris-olympics-200m-champion-popovici-says-pan-world-record-amazing-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Aug 2024 22:00:23 +0000 This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Download our app to get faster notifications and 14 days of unlimited access. Let’s be honest, today was supposed to be another one of those slightly lighter ones, where we all go to take a breather after the non-stop action of the opening few days. Then China’s Pan Zhanle goes and wins the 100m freestyle in world record time, a rival coach essentially... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3272784/paris-olympics-day-6-pan-zhanle-fallout-continues-butterfly-queen-zhang-defends-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3272784/paris-olympics-day-6-pan-zhanle-fallout-continues-butterfly-queen-zhang-defends-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Aug 2024 07:58:21 +0000 An Australian swimming commentator and coach has said Pan Zhanle’s record-breaking victory in the Olympic 100-metre freestyle was “not humanly possible”. The Chinese superstar’s win in 46.40 seconds sparked celebrations back in China, but has been met with suspicion by his rivals. Australia’s Kyle Chalmers posted a time of 47.48, more than a second adrift of Pan, and commentator and coach Brett Hawke, who is not a member of the country’s Olympic set-up, expressed disbelief at the commanding... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3272778/pan-zhanles-olympic-gold-medal-win-not-humanly-possible-says-australian-rivals-coach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3272778/pan-zhanles-olympic-gold-medal-win-not-humanly-possible-says-australian-rivals-coach?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Aug 2024 07:38:22 +0000 Chinese fans have leapt to the defence of new 100m freestyle world-record holder Pan Zhanle, after a rival coach called his performance impossible, and the swimmer said his opponents from the United States and Australia had been “disrespectful”. Social media users in China quickly rounded on “arrogant Westerners” and said it was “so satisfying to see their superiority complex smashed”. The 19-year-old claimed gold in Paris by shattering his own world record in 46.40 seconds, faster than his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3272739/china-gold-medallist-pan-zhanle-slams-disrespectful-australian-us-rivals-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3272739/china-gold-medallist-pan-zhanle-slams-disrespectful-australian-us-rivals-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Aug 2024 04:03:47 +0000 This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Download our app to get faster notifications and 14 days of unlimited access. So that’s that then. The moment we had all been waiting for turns into something of an anti-climax. There’s to be no third gold for Hong Kong, as Siobhan Haughey ends up taking bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle. It hasn’t been a great day for the city’s athletes all round.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/hong-kong/article/3272605/paris-olympics-day-5-quan-leads-china-gold-bid-build-haughey-100m-freestyle-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/hong-kong/article/3272605/paris-olympics-day-5-quan-leads-china-gold-bid-build-haughey-100m-freestyle-race?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Jul 2024 07:11:08 +0000 For Hongkongers, the fourth full day of competition at the Paris Olympics ended much as the previous one had, with Siobhan Haughey doing as Siobhan Haughey often does. She had to set aside the euphoria of the night before, when she swam to bronze in the 200 metres freestyle, and set up another shot at gold, in the 100m. Anyone in Haughey’s hometown who went to bed doubting she had enough in the tank can wake to the news that she had plenty. So, too, did gymnast Simone Biles and the New... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3272553/while-you-were-sleeping-5-things-know-haughey-flies-biles-soars-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3272553/while-you-were-sleeping-5-things-know-haughey-flies-biles-soars-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:58:56 +0000 For top athletes, the Olympics is not just about winning a gold medal, but also for testing the limits of human endeavours. The Games’ motto – “Faster, Higher, Stronger” – has inspired generations to compete with their peers to achieve the best results in human history. And at most events, athletes at the pinnacle are also aiming for the Olympic record and, above all, world record. With that in mind, here are some Olympic records likely to be challenged in Paris. Women’s 200m 21.34 seconds One... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3272125/five-olympic-games-and-world-records-likely-be-challenged-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3272125/five-olympic-games-and-world-records-likely-be-challenged-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jul 2024 08:00:17 +0000 Hong Kong’s leader issued a rallying call for the city on Friday, urging them to unite into a 7 million-strong “cheerleading team” for the athletes who will carry the weight of residents’ hopes and expectations on their shoulders at the Paris Olympics. While locals in the French capital stayed indoors on the eve of the Games, dodging grey and wet skies, a transport network plunged into chaos by vandalism, and complex preparations for the sprawling River Seine opening ceremony, Chief Executive... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/hong-kong/article/3271958/paris-olympics-cheung-and-haughey-lead-way-hong-kong-athletes-prepare-medal-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/hong-kong/article/3271958/paris-olympics-cheung-and-haughey-lead-way-hong-kong-athletes-prepare-medal-push?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jul 2024 04:30:12 +0000 The Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) announced its roster for the coming Paris Olympics on Tuesday, with 11 of the 23 athletes who were revealed to have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs set to compete in July. In April, it was reported that seven months before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ), a prescription heart drug that can enhance performance. Almost half of them went on to compete in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3267116/paris-olympics-china-include-11-23-swimmers-who-tested-positive-tmz-roster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3267116/paris-olympics-china-include-11-23-swimmers-who-tested-positive-tmz-roster?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2024 11:26:45 +0000