Pan Zhanle broke all the world records under 100-meter freestyle and made waves in the global swimming scene. Beyond his outstanding performances in swimming, Zhanle wants to focus on next-generation athletes. The 20-year-old athlete has shown interest in reforming young swimmers and helping them perform better. He wants to be an inspiration for kids to build their careers in swimming and do everything that he lacked during his time.

The world record holder, Pan Zhanle, has raised concerns that, due to a lack of guidance, children are not able to perform well in sports, and it becomes difficult for them to differentiate between right and wrong. He recalls his training period when he needed guidance but couldn’t get it. Pan Zhanle and Zhang Yufei are training kids in the swimming clinic in Shanghai. How important is it to have a mentor or guiding figure to succeed?

A role model he never had: Pan Zhanle’s personal reflection

Growing up in a highly competitive environment, Pan Zhanle always felt the lack of mentorship and necessary guidance to upskill his game. Zhanle opened up about how crucial mentorship and During the swimming clinic in Shanghai, Zhanle said that “When I was young, I needed a role model, or a goal, in order to have more confidence or more motivation.” Because of this personal experience, Zhanle decided to work as a guiding light for the coming generation.

Pan Zhanle’s win in the world championship was called “humanly impossible.” Zhanle has faced a lot of difficulties, including low confidence due to the lack of a clear role model in his journey. He emphasized that one needs to have someone to aspire to because it is not easy to stay motivated, especially in such a competitive sport as swimming. 

In an effort to bridge this gap, Zhanle is actively participating in events like swimming clinics to inspire and motivate young talents. At a recent clinic in Shanghai, he interacted with 31 budding athletes and shared his journey and experience with them. Zhanle’s aim is to provide all the necessary support and encouragement, which he missed out on in his time. According to Zhanle, champions need to be mentally prepared to pursue their dreams with physical strength and techniques. Zhanle said, “The aim is to inspire the next generation and redefine how training is approached in the country.” 

What makes Pan different from others is his humility. Despite being a world record holder, he is away from the ego. He wants to use his expertise to train children and make them succeed in their goals. Is China shifting its approach to training its championships?

A new approach for future champions

China is known for its rigorous training program to produce world-class athletes. These programs are structured with strict regimens, leaving no stone unturned. Zhanle, however, focuses on making a shift in the training based on his personal experience. While Pan is trying to make future athletes rule the world, he has been left behind by Leon Marchand in the ongoing Swimming World Cup.

Though China has started to soften its athlete development programs, particularly when it comes to nurturing talent in youth sports. Pan Zhanle’s involvement in initiatives like the Swimming Clinic in Shanghai shows that China is recognizing the importance of holistic development—both mentally and physically. 

Zhanle believes that the next generation should not only be “trained” but also “inspired.” By participating in swimming clinic programs, Pan is focusing on building interest in the athletes rather than just following a rigid routine. He is hoping that the new approach will appropriately train athletes along with the long-term growth of swimming in China and internationally.

Zhanle expressed his emotions and said, “I think this is very good. It just needs to be promoted through some such activities, or right, that is, to inspire the next generation, not only in our country but also internationally. In fact, it makes everyone really love this project; I think this is very good.” It looks like despite waddling through a tide of controversies, Pan Zhanle aims to reform swimming by mentoring young athletes, driven by his own experience of lacking a role model.