‘Bit weird’: swimming rivalry heats up as Kyle Chalmers hits back at Chinese snub claim

A war of words has opened up between the Australian and Chinese swim teams at the Paris Olympics, after three-time Olympian Kyle Chalmers labelled an allegation that he had snubbed China’s Pan Zhanle on the pool deck “a bit weird”.

On Wednesday, Pan broke the world record in the men’s 100m freestyle, clinching gold as 2016 Rio champion Chalmers won silver. Pan’s remarkable swim was the first world record set at these Games, which have been plagued by claims of slow water.

Related: ‘It’s crazy’: Kyle Chalmers and Zac Stubblety-Cook bow to new generation in Paris

In an interview with a Chinese broadcaster after the race, Pan said that Chalmers had snubbed the 19-year-old on the opening night of competition.

“When I finished the 4x100m freestyle relay the other day, I said ‘hi’ to Chalmers, but he totally ignored me,” Pan said in a TV interview shortly after Wednesday’s race.

Pan also criticised an American swimmer, Jack Alexy, for allegedly acting disrespectfully towards Chinese coaches during a training session.

“When we were training, our coach was standing by the pool side and he turned in such a way that the water splashed right onto the coach. I felt he looked down on us a little.”

Chalmers responded, saying in a statement released via the Australian Olympic Committee on Thursday morning that he had nothing but respect for Pan.

“I find it a bit weird. I gave him a fist pump before the relays, and then my focus went to my teammates and my own racing,” said the Tokyo 100m freestyle silver medallist. “We had a laugh together at warm down last night – but no issues from my end.”

The allegation is all the more unusual because of a comment Chalmers made to reporters on Tuesday following the 100m semi-final. Asked about his younger rivals – Chalmers is only 26, but is a veteran of the pool after winning gold eight years ago – the Australian cited comments previously made to him by Pan.

“Last year before the world championships final, it was crazy having [Britain’s] Matt Richards come up and say ‘it’s an honour to race against you, I’ve grown up watching you, you’ve been one of my idols,’ Chalmers said. “And even Pan, the Chinese boy, straight before we walked out said: ‘Ohh you’re my idol – I’ve loved watching you’.

“That was kind of crazy – I think obviously their first Olympic experience was probably my gold medal in Rio,” the Australian added. “So to be inspiring this next generation of 100m freestyler, and still being able to match them a little bit, is nice.”

The beef in the pool came as it was revealed that Chinese authorities had suspected Australian meat was the culprit for positive anti-doping tests. On Tuesday, it was revealed that two Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned substance in October 2022, but had been cleared of wrongdoing after claiming they had consumed tainted meat.

Following the positive tests, Chinese officials reportedly tested Australian beef for contamination – believing hamburgers made with imported meat were the source of the banned substance.

The contamination of meat products is a well-recognised problem in anti-doping, although Meat and Livestock Australia, an industry body, said on Wednesday that the prohibited substance, metandienone, “is not used in any capacity in Australian beef production or in any veterinary medicine”.

Following five days of the Paris 2024 swim program, Australia sit atop the swimming medal tally with four gold medals. Pan’s win on Wednesday night is China’s first gold medal of the meet.