Paris Olympics: China star Pan Zhanle excited to get back to see sheep, says grandfather
- The 20-year-old won two gold medals in the Paris pool but is said to enjoy rural life and playing with animals
China’s new swim sensation Pan Zhanle cannot wait to get home to spend time with his sheep, his grandfather said.
The 20-year-old won two gold medals and broke his own world record in the 100 metres freestyle in Paris to become a national idol and social media favourite.
But his paternal grandfather, who lives in a tiny village in Zhejiang province, said Pan prefers the quiet.
“He actually likes rural life,” Pan Bohou told local media. “Every time he visited me in the past, I hardly noticed him with his mobile.
“Instead, he prefers to play with animals such as dogs, sheep and cows. Walking the sheep is a way he can relax a bit. The sheep are waiting for him.”
He also recalled how he and his grandson walked their eight sheep after the 2022 Asian Games, when Pan became the fifth man in history to swim the 100m freestyle in under 47 seconds, clocking 46.97 to win gold.
