Kim Woo Min @ Getty Images
Chinese prodigy Pan Zangle sets a world record in the men's 100m freestyle on Sunday, igniting the opening day of the world championships in Doha, and Kim Woo-min gives South Korea a surprise 400m freestyle title. Brought.
The 19-year-old Pang, who set the world record at his home Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, recorded an impressive lead-off swim in the 4x100m relay in a time of 46.80 seconds, which was recorded by Romania's David Popovici. This surpassed the previous record of 46.86 seconds.
“It's an honor for me to break the world record,” said Pan, who led China to the relay victory ahead of runners-up Italy and the United States.
“This is a motivation for both young and old players. We believe that we can run faster than today's time.
“It's truly a magical night.”
Pan, who swam at Doha's Aspire Dome pool, became the favorite for the 100 individual freestyle title and the gold medal at this year's Paris Olympics.
“I'm lucky to have great teammates. I did really well today. It's only the first day and I'm really excited,” he added.
“This is just the beginning…I will do my best for the Paris Olympics.”
Kim took a huge lead midway through the finals and defeated a strong contender for the 400 freestyle gold medal.
He put up a tough fight as Australian runner-up Elijah Winnington and Germany's bronze medal winner Lukas Martens threatened to overwhelm him in a ferocious final lap sprint.
Kim, 23, clocked a time of 3:42.71, beating Winnington by 0.15 seconds and shaving more than a second off her personal best.
After learning from his compatriot Park Tae-hwan, a former 400m world champion, Kim told reporters through an interpreter, “I didn't expect to win a medal. I was happy to race with the champions.'' he said.
“My main focus was the early part of the race because I believe that is my strength. But now I have to focus on the second half.”
Winnington, who won the world title in 2022, finished seventh at the world championships in Fukuoka last July, but has regained his form ahead of the Paris Games.
“Last year was definitely a very disappointing result, but I'm really happy that we were able to turn things around so much in six months,'' he told reporters.
“I'm in a really good headspace, and it showed…the second best time of my career.”
Kim wasn't the only one surprised by the 400-meter run. Olympic champion and Fukuoka runner-up Ahmed Hafnaoui had a great performance in the qualifying rounds.
The Tunisian was 17th fastest in qualifying, but can expect even better results when he defends his 800m and one 500m freestyle title in the second half.
Despite missing Fukuoka due to mental health reasons, world record holder Adam Peaty topped qualifying for the 100m breaststroke final in 58.60 seconds, beating American Nick Fink by 0.13 seconds. .
While many top swimmers skipped Doha to concentrate on their Olympic preparations, Briton Peaty will use the event as a stepping stone on his way to Paris, where he will aim for his third consecutive 100m gold medal.
“Obviously we've come out of a very big winter and we're heading into another winter,” Peaty told Reuters.
“I was just process-driven and getting the job done.
“Tonight I proved I can still do it.”
New Zealander Erica Fairweather won the women's 400m freestyle with a time of 3:59.49, ahead of world record holder Arialne Titmus, Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh and American great Katie Ledecky. They dominated a field lacking a power trio.
Fairweather finished more than two seconds ahead of China's Li Bingjie, who took silver, and Germany's Isabelle Gosse took bronze.
With some of Australia's women's athletes absent from Doha, Australia finished second behind the Netherlands (3:36.61), missing out on a fourth straight world 4x100m relay title.
In the women's 200m individual medley final, American world champion Kate Douglas took the top spot over Canada's Sydney Pickrem.
