China’s internet explodes with pride at ending US swim relay reign – and a sense of vindication

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Hong Kong CNN —

China’s internet exploded with joy and pride Monday after the country’s swimmers ended the United States’ decades-long reign in the men’s 4x100 meters medley at the Olympics, a spectacular win for a Chinese team that has faced intense scrutiny in the wake of a doping controversy.

Pan Zhanle, who set the world record in the 100m freestyle last week, powered China from third position into the lead in the final leg of the relay on Sunday, overtaking his American and French rivals in a stunning reversal.

Pan finished in 45.92 seconds, faster than the 46.40 seconds he swam four days earlier in the 100m final.

Team USA finished 0.55 seconds behind the Chinese team, failing to take gold in the event for the first time since the US boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics and ending its unbeaten streak stretching back to the men’s medley debut at the 1960 Games.

This is China’s second gold in swimming at the Paris Olympics, following Pan’s record-setting win last Wednesday.

But outside China, their success has been met with questions – including from some of their peers in the world of elite swimming – following revelations that nearly half the group Beijing sent to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 had months earlier tested positive for a banned performance enhancing substance.

China's Zhang Yufei competes in a heat of the women's 200-meter butterfly swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 31.

Related article China doping controversy casts a shadow over Olympic swimming

The swimmers had been cleared by China’s Anti-Doping Agency shortly before