Bobby Finke And Lily King Suffer From US Open Swimming Championship Disqualification

Bobby Finke’s outings in the 2023 US Open Swimming were thought to be ‘the next big thing’ before the US Olympic Team Trials slated to happen next year. The swimmer’s records remained the best proof of that. In both 800 and 1500m freestyle, Bobby Finke has claimed reverence from the swimming community since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, after the first part of the 2023 US Open Swimming Championship, the cards are not falling in place for him. 

After the third day, in the US Open Swimming Championship, Bobby Finke might find himself with Lilly King in the same place. Both swimming prodigies faced a rare turn of luck on the same day of the event. 

Disqualification haunts Bobby Finke in the US Open Swimming Championship 

Bobby Finke appeared on the B final of 400 IM after giving a full-throttle run in the prelims of the US Open Swimming Championship this year. However, the final didn’t pan out for him on a high note as the former Olympic champion had to face a disqualification.

In the event, the final leg of the event created a nuisance for him. As reported by SwimSwam, the 24-year-old swimmer from Florida couldn’t touch the finish line on his back in the backstroke leg. The SwimSwam Live explained this as his reason for disqualification through its X-handle. 

Previously, on the 2nd day of the US Open Swimming Championship, Charlie Clark handed the swimming sensation a defeat in 800m freestyle after a slowly paced start. Bobby Finke ended up in the third position in that event. Nevertheless, Finke is not the only on who faced an uphill battle. Lilly King also had a bumpy ride on the third day of the event.

Lilly King faces a tremor 

The disqualification trend this year among the probable winners started from Lilly King’s run in the women’s 100m breast prelims. The 26-year-old swimmer flaunted an extraordinary show in that event, clocking the fastest run in the event.

Her timing, 1:06.91, remained at par with the world record set in the event by her in 2017. However, the difference was this time in the US Open Swimming Championship; she fell into the trap of disqualification. The authority reported the reason as her usage of a downward dolphin kick. 

Read more: Bobby Finke Sets US Open Record in 800m Freestyle; Will Compete in Two Events at Upcoming World Championships

After Lilly’s disqualification came into place, Lydia Jacoby, Kate Douglass, Siobhan Haughey, and Anna Elendt moved to the next round of the event. Lydia Jacoby’s time was recorded as the fastest in the prelims. However, in the same event, Katryna Teterevkova fared better than Kate Douglass, one favorite in the championship. The final might pan out as a treat for the fans. 

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