In a thrilling display of endurance, world record holder Pan Zhanle claimed victory in the men's 400m freestyle at China's National Swimming Championships in Shenzhen on Saturday. The 20-year-old clocked a personal-best 3:45.34, overtaking rivals including former Olympic champion Sun Yang in a dramatic final sprint.
Pan trailed briefly at the 250m mark but rallied in the last 50 meters to secure gold. 'This victory is a confidence boost,' he said, surprising even himself given his limited long-distance training. Sun Yang, now 32, reflected: 'I swim for myself and my family now. Mentally, I'm still young.'
The women's event saw history made as Li Bingjie became Asia's first sub-four-minute 400m freestyle swimmer, smashing her own continental record with a 3:59.99 finish. The 23-year-old's achievement highlights China's growing dominance in competitive swimming.
With rising stars like Pan challenging established champions, these championships underscore the depth of China's swimming talent pool as athletes prepare for upcoming international competitions.
