After entering college at 19, he applied for an audit course in basketball refereeing and insisted in traveling between his college's one campus to another for two years for extra study to become a basketball referee.

To catch up with his own major in machine design, he burned the midnight oil. Even so, he got up at 7 am everyday — practicing officiating gestures and doing physical training.

Three years later in 2012, Pan got his certification as a National Level 1 Basketball Referee.

In 2015, Pan was introduced to the triathlon in a game held in his hometown and became addicted to the sport. He had a bigger dream.

For nearly three years, he absorbed himself in learning to be a triathlon referee, English, and doing physical training, even harder than he did in college.