International society celebrate China's epic swimming triumph
China made history ending the United States' 64-year dominance in the men's 4x100m swimming medley relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday. It's the first-ever medal China gained for this event, attracting attention from around the world.
The World Aquatics, swimming's global governing body, and the Olympic Games organizing committee congratulated the Chinese swimming team on the social media platform X as soon as the result was determined. The Paris Olympics organizing committee also said in its post on X: "The team from the People's Republic of China wins the 4x100m medley relay in an epic race."
This stunning breakthrough also brought attention from international media. ESPN, an American international sports channel, said in its report that "China stunned the US by winning gold in the men's 4x100 medley relay". The Daily Telegraph, a British daily newspaper, praised Chinese athlete Pan Zhanle's performances as "a monumental effort".
Team USA showed their respect for the Chinese athletes' performances after the game as well. "Hats off to China, they did a great race tonight," American athlete Ryan Murphy told Reuters on Sunday.
Chinese swimmers have been under intense scrutiny since some western media unfairly portrayed a proven food contamination incident as a "doping scandal" at the Tokyo Olympics. However, most netizens said Pan's success came timely as a powerful response.
@AceDimension23 said on X, "US trolls can troll all they want, this is a clean race and they lost to China fair and square". @Angela_868 also said on X that Pan's result "must be enough to silence many doubters".
American swimming athlete Caeleb Dressel acknowledged the strength of the Chinese swimming team in a press conference after the game, "it's good for the (swimming) sport to have the whole world involved".
Most Popular
- China's Buyunchaokete upsets No 6 seed Musetti to reach China Open last eight
- World No 1 Sun Yingsha reaches last 32 at WTT China Smash
- 'Queen' Wen sails into third round
- Aiming beyond the target - exclusive with Paris Olympics' first gold winners
- Mongolian ethnic tennis player becomes overnight sensation
- Ten Hag left frustrated by costly mistake in Europa opener