American swimmer Bobby Finke defended his Olympic title in the men's 1500m freestyle, setting a new world record with a time of 14:30.67.
American swimmer Bobby Finke has made history by breaking the world record in the men's 1500m freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Tampa native defended his Olympic title in the event on Sunday, touching the wall in a blistering time of 14:30.67.
Finke's time shattered the previous world record by 0.35 seconds, which was set by Sun Yang of China in 2012. The American held a half-second lead at the midway point of the race and was ahead of world record pace.
Bobby Finke Breaks World Record in 1500m Freestyle for Olympic Gold
However, Italian swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri began to close the gap in the second half of the race. With 500 meters remaining, Finke stretched his lead to 1.3 seconds but was still just ahead of the world record pace.
Finke eventually lost his substantial lead on the world record, but Paltrinieri was unable to catch him. The Italian finished 3.88 seconds behind Finke for the silver medal. At one point, Paltrinieri was also ahead of the record pace.
Bobby Finke Breaks World Record in 1500m Freestyle for Olympic Gold
Finke's victory marks the seventh gold medal for the United States in the swimming pool at the 2024 Olympics and the 26th overall. It is also the third American swimming gold on Sunday, following Scottie Scheffler's victory in golf and Kristen Faulkner's in cycling.
The 24-year-old Finke made his Olympic debut in Tokyo at the age of 21 and immediately made a name for himself by winning two gold medals. Now, he is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and the holder of the world record in the 1500m freestyle.
Bobby Finke Breaks World Record in 1500m Freestyle for Olympic Gold
Finke's success is a testament to his dedication and hard work. He trains relentlessly and is known for his strong work ethic. He is also a talented athlete with a natural ability in the water.
Finke's world record-breaking performance is a major moment in American swimming history. He is now one of the most decorated swimmers in the world, and he has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest distance swimmers of all time.
