An Australian coach at the Olympics has questioned the validity of a Chinese athlete’s victory after he smashed the world record.

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle, 19, clinched the top spot in the men’s 100m freestyle, shattering his own world record by 0.4 seconds.

The Chinese athlete smashed his own world record. Credit: Christian Liewig – Corbis/Getty

This remarkable achievement also marked a historic moment for China, securing its first-ever gold medal in the 100m freestyle.

Pan’s performance at La Défense Arena left spectators in awe, as he finished more than a second ahead of runner-up Kyle Chalmers from Australia, with Romania’s David Popovici taking third place.

However, Australian coach and former Olympian Brett Hawke expressed skepticism about the victory, per the Guardian.

Hawke took to Instagram to raise his complaints. Credit: Brett Hawke / Instagram

Hawke, speaking on Instagram, labeled the win as “too good to be true” and argued that beating the world record in such a manner was “not humanly possible.”

“Listen, I’m just going to be honest, I am angry at that swim. Look, I’m angry for a number of reasons,” Hawke stated.

He continued: “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.”

Hawke did not provide specific reasons for doubting the legitimacy of Pan’s win but remained adamant in his disbelief.

“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.”

In a follow-up post, Hawke added: “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Pan Zhanle. Credit: Christian Liewig – Corbis/Getty

“It makes no sense to be able to go out that fast and come home and pull away from two of the greatest swimmers in history,” he told Sky News Australia.

“There’s no evidence to say that he’s tested positive but there’s evidence to say that drugs have to be involved here.”

Hawke has since deleted the controversial post.

After the race, Australian swimmer Chalmers said he trusted that everyone was “staying true to the integrity of the race”.

“I trust that he’s done everything he possibly can to be there and he deserves that gold medal.”