The American swimming sensation Bobby Finke has already made waves at the Paris Olympics by winning gold in the 1500m. “I really wanted to get on top of the podium again and hear the anthem all over again like I did for the first time in Tokyo,” Finke said. The USA men’s team had usually won a gold medal in every event since 1900, but this time in Paris, they hadn’t won one by the last day. On the final day, Finke stepped up. The defending gold medalist in the 800m and 1500m freestyle clinched another gold for Team USA on Sunday, August 4, with a remarkable time of 4:30.67.

With this win, Finke preserved both his own reputation and the nation’s 120-year legacy of winning Olympic gold in men’s individual swimming events. Finke’s victory was crucial, as the rest of the men’s team had to settle for silver and bronze medals in other events. Now, everyone is celebrating his massive win and new Olympic record. Curious about Bobby Finke’s path to glory? Here’s a look at his approach and preparations for the Paris Olympics 2024.

Saving a legacy: Finke’s golden triumph and the team’s journey in Paris

The freestyle swimmer was confident and determined despite the stress. He said, “I can’t let go of this now. I can’t be the guy who got run down after I do all the running down.” Olympics.com reported the intense pressure on Finke, who admitted, “I knew going into the race I was the last individual swimmer for the guys.” This mindset drove him to a record-breaking performance in the 1500m, beating Gregorio Paltrinieri and Daniel Wiffen. But the win we witnessed is the result of tireless practice. Katie Ledecky, the 800m gold winner, best captures this.

Remembering their practices—even during Christmas—Katie Ledecky says, “Ninety-nine percent of the time Bobby is killing me. I find that one percent every now and then and have a good day where I can sneak ahead of him.” In response, Bobby says, “Katie is a beast in practice.”

This exchange shows that while both Olympic gold medalists are humble in their praise, they know how to seize victory when it counts. The 1500m Men’s individual race held on August 4, 2024, was nothing exceptional for the Floridian freestyler. Finke started his race with a new approach, taking the lead instead of coming from behind. After the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Finke secured his second gold by breaking the world record previously held by China’s Sun Yang.

He touched the wall in 14 minutes, 30.67 seconds, breaking the previous record of 14:31.02 set by China’s Sun Yang at the 2012 London Games. Bobby Finke met a new record, beating Yang’s record of 14.31.02 seconds. Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri bagged silver with 14.34.55, and Daniel Wiffen of Ireland got bronze with 14.39.63 seconds. The success of Finke puts yet another feather in the cap this Olympics by breaking the third swimming world record. Failing to achieve so would have resulted in a humiliating disaster for the last 120 years.

Bobby Finke’s performance saved the USA from its 120-year disaster

After Caeleb Dressel’s sixth-place finish in the 50m freestyle and Ryan Murphy’s bronze in the 200m backstroke, the spotlight turned to Bobby Finke to break the streak. On the penultimate day, the 24-year-old proved why Katie Ledecky calls him the best training partner she could have. Bobby Finke claimed gold with a world record time in the men’s 1500m freestyle at the Paris Olympics. He became the first American male swimmer to win the top individual spot and set an American record for securing at least one individual gold medal in men’s swimming at the Olympics.

The tradition of winning in the pool had been unbroken since the 1904 Olympics, with only the 1980 Moscow Games interrupting the streak due to Team USA’s boycott. This time, fans waited eight long days to see an American male swimmer take gold. Feeling the pressure to deliver for the US men’s team, Finke said, “At the 300 mark, I was maybe a body length (ahead of Paltrinieri), and I was like, I can’t let this go now.” He added, “I can’t be the guy who got run down after I do all the running down. So that was a big factor in my mind.” This motivation drove him to touch the wall first. His time broke a 12-year-old world record by 0.35 seconds.

Although breaking the record wasn’t his primary goal, Finke noticed glimpses of the timer during the race and realized he was swimming faster than the previous record. He explained, “I knew I was on pace, but it was not my focus because I knew (Paltrinieri) could come home really quick. My focus was really just to try and do the best I could and get my hand on the wall.” Over the past seven nights at the La Défense Arena in Paris, American men won six awards in individual events: three silver and three bronze medals. Only the six men who competed in the heats and finals of the 4×100 freestyle race and the four men who helped the mixed relay team win a gold medal stood at the top of the podium while the American national anthem played.

Even the men’s relay team, which had never lost in the Olympics since the event began in Rome in 1960, came in second place to China and received a silver medal instead of gold. Amid this mixed performance, Bobby Finke’s gold in the 1500m freestyle was a beacon of hope. His victory ended a 120-year drought and renewed the American spirit in swimming. Finke’s triumph highlighted how individual brilliance can shine through even in challenging times.