Pan Zhanle defeated Sun Yang in the 2025 National Swimming Championships "Battle of Inheritance": "I have to practice when I go back"

In the "Battle of Inheritance" of Chinese swimming, Pan Zhanle successfully defeated his predecessor Sun Yang and realized his childhood wish! In the 2025 China National Swimming Championships unveiled on the 17th, the focus of the first day was the men's 400-meter freestyle final, where 20-year-old rising star Pan Zhanle and 33-year-old veteran Sun Yang faced off head-to-head, starting the battle of the inheritance of the new and old generations of Chinese men's swimmers.

Poon Zhanle (left) defeated Sun Yang in the men's 400m freestyle to win the championship. The picture shows the two congratulating each other after the game.

In the end, Hangzhou Asian Games silver medalist Pan Zhanle swam 3 minutes 45.34 seconds and crossed the line first in the men's 400m freestyle to win the championship, beating Sun Yang, who won the third place in 3 minutes and 47.53 seconds. The runner-up in the men's 400m was Fei Liwei, whose performance of 3:45.57 was only 0.23 seconds slower than Pan Zhanle.

A screenshot of Pan Zhanle's interview at the age of 10 was widely circulated by the Chinese media immediately after the game. Pan Zhanle, who was still childish at the time, shouted in front of the camera, "It's enough to be faster than Sun Yang".

Pan Zhanle: I have to practice when I go back. After a lapse of 10 years, in the men's 400m freestyle in which Sun Yang won the first Olympic men's swimming gold medal for China in that year (2012), Pan Zhanle achieved his goal at that time.

In an interview after the game, Pan Zhanle said, "I feel that I am under a lot of pressure in this game, because they are all very strong opponents in China. But in fact, there is still a big gap between (the record) and the world's top players, and I still have to practice when I go back. ”

Sun Yang swam the best result after the ban was lifted. Sun Yang is still swimming his best record in the men's 400m since his comeback from the ban in August last year. At the award ceremony, Sun Yang's move to arrange the number plate for Pan Zhanle also sparked heated discussions.

Pan Zhanle men's 4X100 relay rate Zhejiang won the championship. Pan Zhanle also joined hands with He Junyi, Shen Jiahao and Hong Jinquan on the same day to represent the Zhejiang team in the men's 4×100m freestyle final. Pan Zhanle, an Olympic and world champion in the men's 100m freestyle and world record holder, was the last runner to lead Zhejiang to the top and win the gold medal in 3:14.07.