World record holder Pan Zhanle takes 100m freestyle swimming gold

DOHA – A “nervous” Pan Zhanle backed up his men’s 100 metres freestyle world record by winning the world title in Doha on Feb 15 in a warning to rivals for the Paris Olympics gold medal.

The 19-year-old did not threaten the stunning mark of 46.80 seconds he set with the lead-off swim in the relay at the world championships at the Aspire Dome on Feb 11, but his 47.53sec was enough to secure a first individual world gold.

He had to fight for it, though, with Italian runner-up Alessandro Miressi and Hungary’s bronze medallist Nandor Nemeth threatening to upset the Chinese favourite in a furious finish.

“I was a bit nervous because this is my first individual final at the world championships,” Pan said.

“My time was just so-so. I tried my best but my level was not that strong.

“I know it’s only the beginning. Let’s meet in Paris.”

Pan was the strong favourite for the blue-riband title but Canadian Finlay Knox’s 200m individual medley gold was something of a surprise.

The United States’ Carson Foster, runner-up at the Fukuoka world meet in 2023, had bigger claims but Knox took him down from lane seven in the final freestyle leg to win in 1min 56.64sec while improving on his Canadian record. Italy’s Alberto Razzetti claimed the bronze.

“Historically, I’m pretty slow with backstroke (but) the last 50 everyone knows you just have to dig deep and go for it,” said Knox.

In a women’s 200m butterfly field minus the Fukuoka medallists, Briton Laura Stephens won the gold in 2:07.35, pipping Denmark’s Helena Bach by 0.09sec.

Bosnia’s Lana Pudar took bronze and enjoyed the loudest cheers of the night from a rowdy pocket of Bosnian fans.

American teenager Claire Curzan continued her fruitful campaign by winning the non-Olympic 50m backstroke in 27.43sec, pipping Australian Iona Anderson by 0.02sec.

Having missed out on a spot in the United States’ world championships team to Fukuoka last July, 19-year-old Curzan now has four medals in Doha, including golds in the 100m back and mixed medley relay.

With Australian world record holder Kaylee McKeown skipping the meet along with the Fukuoka minor medallists, Curzan has had it all her own way in the backstroke.

The fastest qualifier in the 200m heats with 2:10.50, she is on course to become only the second woman to win all three backstroke titles at the same world championships, after McKeown in Fukuoka.

In the 50m free, world champion Cameron McEvoy got his title defence off to a blistering start.

The Australian won his heat easily, clocking an impressive 21.13sec to be top seed for the semi-finals later on Feb 16, ahead of Ukraine’s Vladyslav Bukhov (21.56sec).

Cesar Cielo’s world record of 20.91sec in a now-banned super-suit has stood for over 14 years but McEvoy, who won the title in Fukuoka in 21.06sec, could be ready to threaten it.

Swedish swimming titan Sarah Sjostrom is on track for a sixth successive title in the non-Olympic women’s 50m butterfly.

World record holder Sjostrom clocked 24.88sec to be top seed for the semi-finals.

Buoyed by Pan’s world title, China’s women claimed the 4x200m free relay gold ahead of Britain and a second-string Australia.

In the early session on Feb 16, Singapore’s swimmers did not make it past their heats – Teong Tzen Wei finished 18th in the men’s 100m fly in 52.62sec.

Jonathan Tan clocked 22.27sec in the 50m free to end in 28th place.

Quah Ting Wen (26.78sec) was 21st in the women’s 50m fly and Ashley Lim (8:54.29) finished 21st in the 800m free.

The results of the finals on Feb 16 were not available at press time. REUTERS