The Chinese team of Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Sun Jiajun and Pan touched in 3:27.46s with the US second in 3:28.01s.

France came home third in 3:28.38, with superstar Leon Marchand adding a bronze medal to his four golds in Paris.

“It’s magic for me,” said Pan, who smashed the 100m freestyle world record on his way to the title this week.

“I think we make a good team and we got a good result. For me, the whole journey of the Olympic Games has been great. I’m very satisfied. I think I can swim even faster,” he added.

Xu, the 100m backstroke silver medallist, gave China the lead after the opening leg, with Qin ensuring they also turned first after the breaststroke.

France came surging back, thanks to a sizzling butterfly leg from Maxime Grousset, before Pan swam an incredible 45.92s leg in the freestyle to bring it home for China.

“I think the expectation is gold,” said a disappointed Caeleb Dressel, who swam the butterfly for the Americans.

“That’s traditionally what we strive for and I don’t think that changes any Olympic cycle. That was a close race, cane down to the wire.”