Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle puts world on notice in leadup to Olympics

DOHA: A World Championships rammed into a tight window before the Paris Olympics was never going to be a hit with swimming's global elite but if nothing else, Doha may be remembered as the launchpad to superstardom for Chinese sprinter Pan Zhanle.

The 19-year-old's 100m freestyle world record of 46.80s electrified the opening night at the Aspire Dome pool and powered China to gold in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay.

Pan never bettered the mark in the individual event but it scarcely mattered as he became China's first world champion in the blue riband race since Ning Zetao in 2015.

Former 100m world record holder David Popovici and Kyle Chalmers, the world champion at Fukuoka last July, skipped Doha - but Pan has put them on notice in the leadup to Paris.

He finished the meet with four gold medals, helping China win three titles in depleted relay events.

While Pan is the future of swimming, Sarah Sjostrom continues to rewrite history as she pushes for another Olympic gold at the age of 30.

Though a score of top swimmers skipped Doha due to its unusual scheduling and proximity to the Olympics, Sjostrom gave the event a much-needed sprinkle of stardust.

The evergreen Swede showed she is still a major force, winning her third successive 50m freestyle gold after cruising to a sixth straight title in the non-Olympic 50m butterfly.

She became only the second swimmer to win six consecutive world titles in the same event, following the great Katie Ledecky in the 800m at Fukuoka.

Sjostrom also extended her record tally of world championship medals in individual events to 23 and returns home with confidence ahead of Paris where she will focus on the 50m freestyle.

Ireland celebrated their first world titles in swimming along with a new