Kyle Chalmers' classy act after Chinese rival Pan Zhanle calls out Aussie's 'disrespectful' move

Kyle Chalmers has hosed down nagging speculation around rival swimmer Pan Zhanle after the Chinese teenager blitzed the 100m freestyle world record at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday night. Chalmers went into the final as a red-hot chance to win gold, but was completely blown away by the 19-year-old Pan.

The Chinese swimmer lowered his own world record by a staggering 0.40 seconds - an insane feat considering how 'slow' the pool has been in Paris. It was the first world record broken in the pool at the Paris Games so far - a detail that raised more than a few eyebrows considering where Pan is from.

China has been under a huge cloud at the Paris Olympics after bombshell revelations came to light that 23 swimmers tested positive to a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but were still allowed to compete. World anti-doping authorities accepted China's explanation the swimmers had eaten contaminated food at a team hotel.

Kyle Chalmers quells speculation around Pan Zhanle

Pan wasn't among those 23 swimmers, many of whom are back competing in Paris. But his obliteration of the world record had many questioning if something was amiss.

But in classy comments immediately after the race, Chalmers played down any suggestion that Pan had done anything untoward. "I do everything I possibly can to win the race and trust everyone's doing the same as I am, staying true to the integrity of sport," the silver medallist said. "I trust that ... he (Pan) deserves that gold medal."

Pan Zhanle had accused Kyle Chalmers of 'disrespectful' act

Chalmers and Pan shared some nice moments in the pool and on the podium - but only after the Chinese swimmer had made some explosive comments in a pool-side interview. Immediately after the race he claimed to Chinese media that Chalmers had ignored him earlier in the Games when he's said hello to the Aussie, and American Jack Alexy had deliberately splashed his coach.

“After we finished the 4x100m freestyle relay on the first day, I greeted Chalmers, but he completely ignored me,” he said in comments translated into English. “This also included the US team’s Alexy. When we trained, our coach was on the deck, and someone did a flip turn and splashed water directly on the coach.

“This behaviour seemed a bit disrespectful to us. But today, we beat all of them, and broke the world record in such a difficult pool. It was an extraordinary performance and a great start for the Chinese team.”

Kyle Chalmers and Zac Stubblety-Cook settle for silver

However Pan later appeared to walk back his comments about Chalmers, and certainly didn't say them to the Aussie's face. According to Chalmers, Pan told him he was an inspiration to the teenager and one of the reasons he got into swimming. “Pan, the Chinese boy, straight before we walked out said: ‘You’re my idol and I love, love, love watching you," Chalmers said.

RELATED:

• Giaan Rooney goes public with dodgy American move at Olympics

• Aussie golden girl deletes nightclub photo in ugly fallout after loss

Chalmers described Pan's time as "crazy" and was left in awe. "It's a time I never dreamed or saw as possible," the Aussie admitted. "The last 15 metres ... I thought I could be dead last because he was so far ahead of me."

Chalmers has now won consecutive Olympic silver medals to go along with the gold he won in Rio in 2016. Compatriot Zac Stubblety-Cook also had to settle for silver on Wednesday night in an attempted defence of his 200m breaststroke title. Stubblety-Cook also had to tip his cap to French star Leon Marchand, who set a new Olympic record to get the gold.

with AAP