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3 months ago
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Kyle Chalmers has become the target of shocking social media attacks from angry Chinese fans who claim the Aussie 'disrespected' Zhanle Pan before and after his dramatic 100m freestyle win at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Pan claimed China's first gold medal in the pool in Paris on Thursday morning (AEST), setting a new world record in the process and leaving the Aussie champion in his wake.
Talking with a Chinese news network after the race, Pan took aim at Chalmers and accused him of snubbing him after claiming silver in the one-sided final.
That has led to a firestorm on Chinese social media platform Weibo, which Statista reports has over 605 million users.
Pan's video went viral amongst Chinese fans who have attacked Chalmers - even though the Aussie can prove he did have a friendly chat to Pan.
'After finishing the 100m race, I waved at [Kyle] Chalmers but he didn't acknowledge me at all,' Pan said in the video, translated to English.
'Including the USA swimmer, Alexy [Jack], when we were practicing. Our coach was standing on the platform and he did a flip turn.
'From the way he did the flip turn, it directly splashed our coach.
Chalmers had to settle for second place behind the world record swim of Pan in the 100m free
Pan received waves of support from China, while plenty of his supporters were not happy with the comments he made about Chalmers
'It just feels like we are being looked down on as a team. Can I say that on here?'
Interviewer: 'You can say whatever you want.'
'But finally today, I beat them all and especially in such a difficult pool, to break a world record is just, it was just such a great race for me,' Pan said.
Some of the comments posted on the Chinese social media network Weibo defend Pan and attack Chalmers and Australia as 'sore losers'.
'Some Westerners always believe they are superior to others. Instead of taking responsibility for their own mistakes, they would smear others if they were to lose,' one Weibo user posted.
'That's why their countries are losing competitiveness and falling behind.'
However, Chalmers painted a very different picture of what happened when he crossed paths with Pan during the week ahead of their big showdown.
'Pan, the Chinese boy, straight before we walked out said: "You're my idol and I love, love, love watching you",' Chalmers said. 'So that was kind of crazy.'
'Probably their first Olympic experience is almost my gold medal in Rio so to be inspiring this next generation of 100 [metre] freestylers and still being able to match them a little bit is nice.'
Chalmers was snapped warmly shaking Pan's hand after they received their medals
The Aussie super fish even posed for a selfie with Pan and bronze medalist David Popovici
Chalmers was also pictured congratulating Pan after the race with a huge smile and warm handshake, even taking the time to get a selfie with the Chinese star.
Pan also responded to accusations that he was involved in doping to achieve the world record.
Chinese athletes, including 23 swimmers, tested positive for trace amounts of the prohibited substance metandienone in late 2022 and early 2023. Pan was not named among them.
They were provisionally suspended on November 3, 2022 and were facing four-year bans from their respective sports before an investigation found the results were the result of meat contamination, not doping.
Chinese state security authorities reportedly said Australian beef was the source of the problem after testing beef imports.
Pan's own post to Chinese social media platform Weibo is pictured translated into English
Pan said there was little chance any Chinese athlete in Paris could be using performance-enhancing drugs because of the high volumes of testing they face.
'Last year, I underwent 29 tests, all were negative. During this year from May (Championships) to July, we've had another 21 tests and again, all were negative,' he said.
'Today [the day of winning the gold medal], I've been tested twice already (before and after) and I'm now awaiting results.
'They've been taking tests in strict schedules and following all rules, in order to test all of us. So there is nothing to worry about on this matter.'
Chalmers also played down any suggestion that Pan had done anything untoward after the race.
'I do everything I possibly can to win the race and trust everyone's doing the same as I am, staying true to the integrity of sport,' the silver medallist said.
'I trust that ... he (Pan) deserves that gold medal.'
English (US)