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Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
Chinese swimmers before the women's 4x200m freestyle relay, Paris, France, August 1, 2024. /CFP
Chinese swimming prodigy Pan Zhanle made a splash at the Paris Olympics after snatching gold in the men's 100m freestyle and smashing his own world record. But eagle-eyed viewers noticed something peculiar: Pan entered the venue sporting a down jacket!
Social media in China buzzed with curiosity, with posts on Weibo, one of the country's most popular platforms, exceeding 10 million views on the topic.
A Weibo poll revealed some hilarious guesses. Nearly 7,000 accounts voted for the rational "staying warm" option, but a few hundred opted for "shyness" or "looking cool." As it turned out, the jacket is indeed for warmth.
Pan Zhanle of Team China before the men's 100m freestyle semifinal during the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 30, 2024. /CFP
"Swimmers often face long waits between warm-up and competition," Zou Rongqi of China's General Administration of Sport explained to Science and Technology Daily in late 2023. "Muscle temperature could sometimes dictate performance, so jackets are essential to maintain warmth, even in summer."
"Also, down jackets are lightweight and easy to take off, perfect for pre-swimming preparation," Zou added.
This sentiment was echoed by Professor Su Hao from Beijing Sport University. "Down jackets are soft and won't restrict warm-up exercises."
For amateur swimmers considering a down jacket purchase, Su clarified to the Chinese newspaper Global Times that it's unnecessary for indoor pools. However, a down jacket can be great after swimming outdoors, especially in winter.
"You don't have to wear a down jacket. A thick bath blanket is enough," Su said.