DOHA — China’s Pan Zhanle backed up his men’s 100 metres freestyle world record by winning the world title in Doha in a warning to rivals for the Paris Olympics gold medal.
The 19-year-old did not threaten the stunning 46.80 seconds mark he set with the leadoff swim in Sunday’s relay at the World Championships but 47.53 was enough to secure his first individual world gold at the Aspire Dome pool.
He had to fight for it, though, with Italian runner-up Alessandro Miressi and Hungary’s bronze medallist Nandor Nemeth threatening to upset the Chinese favourite in a furious finish.
“I was a bit nervous because this is my first individual final at the World Championships,” Pan said according to Reuters.
“My time was just so-so. I tried my best but my level was not that strong. I know it’s only the beginning. Let’s meet in Paris.”
Pan was strong favourite for the blue riband title but Canadian Finlay Knox’s 200 metres individual medley gold was something of a surprise.
The United States’ Fukuoka runner-up Carson Foster had bigger claims but Knox took him down from lane seven in the final freestyle leg to win in 1:56.64, improving on his Canadian record. Italy’s Alberto Razzetti claimed bronze.
“Historically, I’m pretty slow with backstroke (but) the last 50 everyone knows you just have to dig deep and go for it,” said Knox.
In a modest field lacking all of the Fukuoka medallists, Briton Laura Stephens won the women’s 200m butterfly title in 2:07.35, pipping Denmark’s Helena Bach by less than a tenth of a second.
Bosnia’s 18-year-old Lana Pudar took bronze and enjoyed the biggest cheers of the night from a rowdy pocket of Bosnian fans.
American Claire Curzan continued her fruitful campaign by winning the non-Olympic 50m breaststroke in 27.43 seconds, pipping Australian surprise package Iona Anderson by 0.02 seconds.
Having missed out on a spot in the United States’ World Championships team to Fukuoka last July, Curzan now has four medals, including golds in the 100m backstroke and mixed medley relay.
Buoyed by Pan’s world title, China’s women capped a successful night for the nation by claiming the 4x200m freestyle relay gold ahead of Britain and a second-string Australian team.
Olympic silver medallist Siobhan Haughey will bid for the 100m world title on Friday, having become Hong Kong’s first swimming world champion with her 200m win.
Haughey, runner-up behind Mollie O’Callaghan in the 100m at last year’s event in Fukuoka, qualified second behind the Netherlands’ Marrit Steenbergen.
World record holder Sarah Sjostrom was entered in the 100m but did not swim. The Swedish veteran told home media this month she is not planning to compete in the event at Paris.
With world champion Tatjana Schoenmaker skipping Doha, American Kate Douglass is on track for a second title at the meet.
