Bobby Finke, former Florida swimmer, sets world record to win gold medal in 1500m freestyle

Bobby Finke is golden again.

The former Florida swimmer won the gold medal in the 1500-meter freestyle race of the 2024 Paris Olympics in dominating fashion, breaking a world record. Finke turned a time of 14:30.67, smashing the previous record time of 14:31.02.

Paris comes unglued as Florida #Gators star Bobby Finke saves 120 years of American men’s swimming history setting a world record in the 1500m freestyle to win the United States’ lone men’s individual swimming gold of the #Olympics. pic.twitter.com/67Wir0v1NH

— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) August 4, 2024

In addition to being a world record, Finke also preserved a 120-year streak of an American male swimmer winning an individual gold medal. The 1500-meter freestyle was the USA’s last shot at individual gold.

Florida Gator is a damn American hero. Wins the first and only individual gold of the swimming competition for the U.S. men. Streak lives on since 1904 of at least one individual gold.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) August 4, 2024

A native of Clearwater, Florida, Finke swam at UF from 2019-22. He was an 11-time All-American, and NCAA champion in the 1650-meter free (2021, ’22) and 400 IM (2021). He also won numerous SEC titles.

Finke won gold medals in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 800m freestyle and 1500m freestyle. He picked up a silver Olympic medal for his collection earlier this week in the 800m freestyle in Paris.

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