By love-89.com “After work, after work!” With that playful remark, Pan Zhanle cheekily took the microphone from a volunteer to address the reporters following the men’s 100m individual medley final, which wrapped up the day’s events on the evening of October 18.
The 2024 FINA Swimming World Cup kicked off in Shanghai on that day. The first competition session featured 12 events, with Chinese swimmers including Pan Zhanle, Wang Shun, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei, Tang Qianting, and Ye Shiwen all taking to the pool.
The competition took place in the Oriental Sports Center, where Pan Zhanle advanced to the finals of the men’s 100m medley with a preliminary time of 53.12 seconds. This event showcased a short course of 25 meters, with over 200 athletes competing in all 34 individual events (17 for men and 17 for women). While short course swimming is less common than long course, it offers a more exhilarating experience, with many competitors describing it as “quite challenging.”
This event was a gathering of top talent, featuring 19 Olympic champions. The Chinese swimming team presented a full roster for the upcoming Paris Olympics, while international athletes also brought star power to the meet.
The men’s 100m individual medley final drew considerable attention with Pan Zhanle, Wang Shun, and French swimmer Maxime Grousset in the mix. Pan Zhanle, who had previously secured gold medals in the men’s 100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay at the Paris Olympics, faced off against the seasoned Wang Shun, who had returned to the 100m medley after focusing on the 200m event since 2018. Grousset, known as the “four-gold king” of the Paris Olympics, is a formidable competitor in the medley.
In the end, Grousset clinched the victory with a time of 50.65 seconds. Wang Shun set an Asian record with a fourth-place finish at 51.24 seconds, while Pan Zhanle claimed sixth place with a time of 51.78 seconds.
For Wang Shun, breaking the Asian record was a thrilling achievement. Passing through the mixed zone, Pan Zhanle couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up to Wang during his interview. Wang expressed delight in the special nature of the competition, noting it was his first time competing in the same event as Pan Zhanle. “We both cherish this opportunity; we made adjustments together with our coach before the race,” he said.
Pan Zhanle, more known for his prowess in the 100m freestyle, was trying the 100m medley for the first time. With his preliminary time putting him in eighth place, he improved his performance by 1.34 seconds in the finals. “It felt amazing. There are plenty of areas to improve and optimize in this event. Short course racing is a great opportunity for training. Our gap with athletes from other countries isn’t too large; it’s mainly about turns and starts. More competitions like this can help us grow and improve,” he remarked.
What stood out for Pan Zhanle, beyond the results, was the experience of competing alongside the veteran Wang Shun. “The feeling was different today; this was my first time competing against Shun Ge in his main event, and it was very meaningful. I’ve always sought his advice for experience.” He added that Wang Shun sets a great example for him, teaching the importance of creating history during one’s athletic career to inspire others and promote the sport.
On that day, Pan Zhanle’s grandfather was also present in the stands. When asked if having family there added pressure, he said it partially made up for the absence of his family during the Paris Olympics. “With my family cheering me on, I just focus on my technique—those two things can coexist.” As for whether he might explore the medley more in the future and become an all-around swimmer, he said, “I’ll stick to my main events for now and gradually develop from there.”
In the men’s 100m breaststroke final, Qin Haiyang took the gold with a time of 55.73 seconds, while fellow Chinese swimmer Sun Jiajun finished third. In the women’s 50m freestyle, Polish swimmer Katarzyna Wasick took the title, with Zhang Yufei securing a silver medal at 24.05 seconds, and Tang Qianting placing seventh.
This year’s Swimming World Cup consists of three events, all hosted in Asia. Following the Shanghai stage, the competition will move to Incheon, South Korea from October 24 to 26, and conclude in Singapore from October 31 to November 2. All three meets will be short course (25m) events and serve as qualifiers for the 2024 Budapest Short Course World Championships.