Olympics cheating storm breaks out as Chinese swimmer, Pan ...

An Olympic cheating storm has broken out in Paris after a 19-year-old Chinese swimmer won the 100m freestyle by 'an entire body length'. 

Pan Zhanle, 19, stormed to victory in the pool last night as he broke his own world record by 0.4 of a second, demolishing Aussie Kyle Chalmers, whom he finished a whole second ahead of.

The incredible effort, which saw him finish the race in 46.40 seconds, meant a first-ever medal for China in the 100m freestyle. 

But his astonishing feat has caused a stir with Chalmers' coach who branded the time as being 'not humanly possible' and insisted that 'if it seems too good to be true, it probably is'.

It comes after China previously allowed 23 swimmers who tested positive for doping to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, although Zhanle has not been formally accused, linked or found guilty of doping himself.

Pan Zhanle celebrates after smashing his own world record in the Paris Olympics to take gold in the 100m freestyle final 

Zhanle stormed to victory in the pool last night, demolishing Aussie Kyle Chalmers (left), whom he finished a whole second ahead of. Zhanle is seen posing with his medal alongside fellow medallists Chalmers and Romanian David Popovici

'Listen, I'm just going to be honest, I am angry at that swim,' Brett Hawke posted on his Instagram account after the race.

'Look I'm angry for a number of reasons. Look my friends are the fastest swimmers in history from Rowdy Gaines to Alex Popov to Gary Hall Jr, Anthony Irvin and all the way up to King Kyle Chalmers. I know these people intimately, I've studied them for 30 years.

'I've studied this sport. I've studied speed. I understand it. I'm an expert in it, that's what I do okay.

'I'm upset right now because you don't win 100 freestyle by a body length on that field. You just don't do it.

'It is not humanly possible to beat that field by a body length.

'I don't care what you say. This is not a race thing, this is not against any one particular person or nation, this is just what I see and what I know.

'That's not real, you don't beat that field. Kyle Chalmers, David Popovici, Jack Alexy, you don't beat those guys by one full body length in 100 freestyle. That's not humanly possible okay so don't sell it to me, don't shove it down my throat. It's not real.'

Chalmers believes that his Chinese rival is drug-free - and said so after the race

Zhanle celebrates after winning gold in a world record time in the Men's 100m Freestyle

Zhanle poses during with his gold medal after winning the Men's 100m Freestyle

Hawke, who is also a former Olympic swimmer himself, also posted a message to his Instagram story that read: 'If it seems too good to be true, it probably is'.

He did not mention doping directly, but China's team has been under increased scrutiny since revelations 23 swimmers tested positive to a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

Pan was not in the group of 23 which was allowed to compete in Tokyo after world anti-doping authorities accepted China's explanation the swimmers had eaten contaminated food at a team hotel.

The country was plunged back into the spotlight on Tuesday after the New York Times reported that two swimmers in 2022 had tested positive for a banned steroid but had provisional suspensions lifted when the results were also blamed on contaminated food.

But Wenzhou native Pan hit back at the claims, stating he had been tested more than 20 times over the past few months but trod a diplomatic path when asked whether it had affected him.

'The testing was essentially done under all the regulations, so I don't feel there was any difference or influence,' Pan told reporters through a translator.

Australia's silver medallist Kyle Chalmers finished 1.08 seconds behind Pan, while David Popovici finished a further 0.01 second behind for the bronze. 

Pan completed the race in 46.40 seconds, finishing a whole body length ahead of his competitors 

Chalmers shakes Zhanle's hands after claiming a silver medal in the 100m Freestyle

Chalmers believes his Chinese conquerer is drug-free after the Australian swim ace was beaten to another Olympic title in Paris.

Asked after the race if he was worried about Pan's stunning swim being tainted by rumours Chinese swimmers have been doping, the Aussie was clear-cut in backing his rival. 

'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,' silver medallist Chalmers said.

'I trust that ... he [Pan] deserves that gold medal.'

Chalmers, the gold medallist at Rio 2016, took his second silver in the event and eighth Olympic medal, having finished runnerup behind Caeleb Dressel at the Tokyo Games.

Chalmers overcame a back injury before Olympic trials and a change of coach after his former one Peter Bishop was stood down in March after an undisclosed investigation.

'I've been swimming the same race plan for the last eight years, and it's worked pretty well for me. It almost worked well for me. I guess tonight to get a silver medal still was amazing,' said Chalmers.

Popovici, who previously held the world record before Pan took it at Doha, added the bronze to his 200m freestyle gold medal at Paris.

There were hopes GB swimmer Matt Richards would also feature in the 100m Freestyle final, but the Welshman failed to make it to the finals. 

Richards finished sixth in his semi-final with a time of 48.09. He was the 12th fastest overall and missed out on a place in the final by just three spots, with the top eight making it through. 

The 21-year-old has already won a silver medal in the men's 200m freestyle final before claiming a gold medal in the men's 4x200 metres freestyle relay along with James Guy, Tom Dean and Duncan Scott.