Pan Zhanle of China celebrates his win

Pan Zhanle of China broke his own world record on the way to winning the Men’s 100m freestyle finishing in 46.40s for his country’s first swimming Gold Medal of the Paris Olympics in France.

That mark topped his 46.80s swum at the February World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

“It was a magical moment, really magical,” Pan said. “The record was not just for the Chinese Team, but for the world. This is a small step by breaking this record.”

In perhaps the most ferocious race in swimming, the 19-year-old Pan edged Kyle Chalmers of Australia, who clocked a 47.48s for Silver and Romanian Bronze Medalist David Popovici in 47.49s.

Chalmers won Gold in the 100m freestyle in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and was the Silver Medalist three years ago in Tokyo, Japan behind American Caeleb Dressel. Dressel did not qualify this time. (Agencies)