Why Is Pan Zhanle's Hometown China's Swimming Hub That Keeps Producing Champion Swimmers?

On August 1st in Paris, France, Pan Zhanle, a swimming star from Wenzhou, Zhejiang, making his Olympic debut, stood at the center of the podium with a gold medal in the men's 100m freestyle...

46.40 seconds! This marked the first gold medal for the Chinese swimming team at this Olympics and a new world record.

Days later, Pan Zhanle delivered a stunning comeback as the anchor in the men's 4×100m medley relay final at the Paris Olympics, teaming up with Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, and Sun Jiajun to secure gold for China and break the U.S. team's 40-year dominance in the event!

Breaking the U.S.'s 40-year gold streak, the post-victory cheers were deafening.

Among them, Pan Zhanle and Xu Jiayu hail from the same hometown—

Half of this gold-medal relay team are natives of Wenzhou, the "water town."

In 1983, Wenzhou was first honored as the "National Hometown of Swimming," a title it has retained in every subsequent selection over nine consecutive terms. For 40 years, this city by the Ou River, Feiyun River, and Ao River has produced generations of swimming champions, passing down its aquatic genes through its rivers, lakes, and seas...

Wenzhou is indeed a water town, where swimming is second nature to its people.

How Wenzhou Became the National Hometown of Swimming

Recent viral "Wenzhou-style" candid remarks by new champion Pan Zhanle showcase the city’s pragmatic, decisive spirit—even days after the Paris Olympics swimming events ended, the "trending storm" sparked by the Chinese swimming team shows no sign of stopping.

The Chinese team claimed 2 golds, 3 silvers, and 7 bronzes in this competition, with Wenzhou athletes contributing 5 of those 12 medals! Medalists Pan Zhanle, Xu Jiayu, and Liu Yaxin embodied Wenzhou’s bold, tenacious character, achieving breakthroughs of historic significance.

Pan Zhanle defeated Rio Olympics 100m freestyle champion Kyle Chalmers

and Paris Olympics 200m freestyle gold medalist David Popovici, while smashing the world record to claim victory.

On August 5, Zhejiang Daily devoted most of a page to explain Wenzhou’s prolific production of aquatic "flying fish"—from 1990s stars Liu Bichun and the Ruan Yi-Ruan Tian sisters, to early-2000s luminaries Lü Zhiwu, Bai Anqi, and Chen Huijia, to the recent dominance of the "trio" Xu Jiayu, Li Zhuhao, and Liu Yaxin, and now Pan Zhanle’s global shockwave... All spotlight Wenzhou’s long-established swimming training system.

But the secret to Wenzhou’s swimming talent lies not just in its system, but also in its natural waterways and deep-rooted aquatic DNA—summed up as "right timing, geographic advantage, and human harmony!"

Wenzhou’s abundant rivers, lakes, and seas nurtured its people’s love for water.

"Right timing" refers to the decades of local refinement in swimming’s "survival of the fittest," now globally praised as the "Wenzhou Model": a network of elite coaches across the city’s pools, whose decades of experience and unique talent-spotting methods ensure no promising swimmer slips through the cracks.

Take Pan Zhanle, whose family had no sports background—he was spotted in 2008 at kindergarten by Wenzhou Shao Yong School coach Ye Xin. His family admits his sports path "began purely by chance," but such "chance" is the inevitable result of Wenzhou coaches’ sharp eyes.

Wenzhou has its own "gold-panning" approach to swimming training

Coaches here have honed an eye for spotting talent.

Meanwhile, Wenzhou has also extensively established youth swimming training bases, with 18 "reserve talent training bases," countless training institutions, and a comprehensive training system that nurtures the most promising youngsters into "world-class flying fish"!

Known as the "Water Town of Jiangnan," Wenzhou boasts the geographical advantage of Yongjia's charm—"long and beautiful waters." In this city crisscrossed by rivers and facing the sea, "swimming" has become an essential skill. The sight of countless skilled swimmers in the Nanxi River reveals that Wenzhou people's love and talent for swimming are ingrained in the local environment. From Jiushan to Zeya Mazhichuan, Yongjia Luodong Beiao, Yueqing Dajing Hengtan, Pingyang Hangkeng, and other natural swimming spots, Wenzhou people can always be seen "like fish in water."

"Harmony among people" reflects not only Zhejiang's substantial investment in children's sports infrastructure but also the deep-rooted perception of swimming among Wenzhou locals. This swimming DNA goes beyond simply "enjoying the cool." "Swimming must not only be learned but also done faster and farther!" embodies the Wenzhou spirit in their character—evident in the over ten mass swimming competitions held annually in Wenzhou alone.

Under this spiritual legacy, at the 2012 London Olympics, Lü Zhiwu won the first Olympic medal for Wenzhou. Since then, Wenzhou swimmers have claimed medals in every subsequent Olympics, culminating in reaching the world's pinnacle this year—a testament to generations of Wenzhou people's relentless efforts!

Since Lü Zhiwu won the first medal at the 2012 London Olympics,

Wenzhou swimmers have secured medals in every Olympic Games!

Beyond Olympic gold medals and world records, the millennia-old Wenzhou spirit synergizes with the water culture of Dong'ou, opening new perspectives and horizons: from the masses of Wenzhou swimmers crossing the Oujiang River, to 13-year-old Dai Kaili crossing the Qiongzhou Strait, to the "Wenzhou Four Heroes" (average age 47) relay-swimming across the English Channel. As the *Wenzhou Daily* put it: Wenzhou's civilian "swimming heroes" conquer the world's waters.

"No place is beyond the reach of Wenzhou swimmers"—this embodies the pioneering spirit of Wenzhou people and the miracles born from this land.

The swimming competition in Zhaoshan Village, Quxi, Ouhai District, is exceptionally lively.

Wherever Wenzhou people go, they can swim.

Who knew Wenzhou was such a "water-loving" place?

On the southeastern coast, at the border of Fujian and Zhejiang, the not-so-wide Oujiang River meanders through the mountains of southern Zhejiang before flowing into the East China Sea. The ancestors of Ouyue thrived by relying on mountains, rivers, and the sea, which form the foundation of Wenzhou's water culture and make it a "paradise for water lovers," leaving a profound historical imprint on the mass participation and spiritual basis of swimming in Wenzhou.

Many outsiders associate Wenzhou with its global merchants and delicious swimming crabs; some may also know of its Yongjia School and cultural heritage. But only Wenzhou locals truly understand the depth of their bond with water.

The Oujiang River runs through downtown Wenzhou, one of the places where the locals' love for water is most deeply rooted.

Wenzhou was once a "water city." During the Qing Dynasty, the ancient city covered about 6 square kilometers, with a total river length of 65 kilometers—its river density even surpassing that of Suzhou and Shaoxing at the time. The myriad ancient bridges and waters long intertwined with the lives of Wenzhou people.

Over time, the rivers and bridges in Wenzhou's urban area have dwindled. Yet, traces of the ancient moat can still be seen in the Jiushan Outer River in the west, the Shuixin River, Xiaonanmen River, and Hualiu Pond River in the south, the Huancheng East Road in the east, and the Oujiang River in the north—preserving the "long and beautiful waters" charm of Yongjia.

The Nantang River, formed by damming to channel water, was once a prehistoric strait.

Today, it is a beloved spot for Wenzhou's water enthusiasts.

From squeezing across the Xiaonanmen Bridge for work, rafting on the Oujiang River, visiting the Oujiang Cinema, or riding in Fiat taxis—older Wenzhou locals have countless nostalgic memories. But "taking a swim" remains the most deeply ingrained "code of action" in their memories.

It's not just "youngster" Pan Zhanle—Wenzhou people's love for water and swimming transcends generations and ages. Jiushan Lake, Nanxi River, and swimming pools across Wenzhou's sports venues are often packed to the brim.

Rivers, lakes, and seas—wherever there is water, Wenzhou people will swim in it for you to see.

Why have Wenzhou people loved swimming since ancient times?

Look at those "natural swimming bases" hidden by mountains, forests, rivers, and seas. When Wenzhou people elevate swimming from a "life skill" to a spiritual enjoyment, the answer may become clear.

Wenzhou people have turned swimming into part of life's pleasures.

The Ou River, Feiyun River, and Ao River traverse Wenzhou. Scenic spots like the "Penglai of Ou River" Jiangxin Islet, Qidu Island—the "back garden of Lucheng," Yandang Mountain, and Donggong Mountain all coexist with water. Meanwhile, places like Nanxi River, a model of Jiangnan countryside with beautiful waters, numerous waterfalls, ancient villages, and lush beach forests, make the significance of water to Wenzhou even clearer when drifting downstream on a bamboo raft.

The sea embodies the courage of Wenzhou people to venture into the wider world and was once their livelihood. The Hundred Islands of Dongtou at the Ou River estuary, with 302 picturesque islands and a 351-kilometer coastline, are stunning. Cangnan, the "ceiling" of seascapes in southern Zhejiang, boasts countless enchanting bays. Pingyang’s Nanji Island offers unparalleled ocean views, where the sunrise at Sanpanwei merges sky and water amid the hum of distant fishing boats.

The sunrise at Shuangbaoyan in Dongtou’s Gewei Reef is a uniquely Wenzhou spectacle.

Jiushan Lake holds swimming memories for generations of Wenzhou people, while Feiyun Lake’s vast grandeur and Tianding Lake’s towering peaks each have their own charm. Particularly notable are the "Three Lakes of Zhongyan Dang" nestled in the heart of Yuzang Peak: Baishi Lake, Zhongqian Lake, and Longshan Lake, with their cascading waterfalls, ancient temples, and breathtaking landscapes—perfect for admiring and enjoying water.

The essence of Wenzhou’s aquatic scenery lies in its waterfalls. The Dalongqiu Waterfall, one of "China’s Four Great Waterfalls," stands out with a single-drop height of 197 meters, ranking among the "Three Wonders of Yandang." Meanwhile, Baizhangji is one of China’s largest three-tiered waterfall systems by drop height.

In the Dalongqiu Waterfall, Wenzhou’s mountainous and watery charm becomes even more vivid.

These aquatic wonders allow Wenzhou’s swimming enthusiasts to find spiritual elevation and joy in their efforts.

For 20-year-old Pan Zhanle, Paris is just the beginning. His name in Wenzhou dialect sounds like "breaking records," much like the winding Ou River flowing into the sea—no matter how曲折 the path, Wenzhou people keep pushing forward.

Wenzhou people "dare to be pioneers" and are naturally tenacious. They are always swimming their way across the world!

To Wenzhou people, water is not just a competitive arena but a way of life.

Cover image, header image | Visual China

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