In long-distance swimming, Bobby Finke is known for his explosive final sprints, like a hunter chasing down its prey. However, after his Olympic debut gold in the men’s 800m freestyle three years ago, Finke has transitioned from hunter to hunted.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen led the latter half of the race, holding off Finke’s final push to secure Ireland’s first-ever swimming gold by just half a second. Finke took silver, edging out Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri in the last 50 meters.
“I love winning, so not winning is tough,” Finke shared. “But I gave it my all, and I’m really proud of that.”
A Record-Breaking Performance
Finke finished with a time of 7:38.75, over three seconds faster than his Tokyo 2020 gold medal performance. Wiffen, setting a new Olympic record with 7:38.19, prevented Finke from achieving a second gold, though Finke’s time remains his personal best.
Bobby Finke’s Journey from “Hunter” to “Hunted”
Three years ago, Finke arrived at the Tokyo Olympics as a relatively unknown swimmer from the University of Florida. In the final 10 meters, he shocked the world by sprinting from fifth place to win gold. He repeated this feat in the 1,500m freestyle, taking another gold.
After Tokyo, Finke completed his degree in construction management but found swimming was his true passion. In 2022, he claimed the 800m world title and a silver in the 1,500m. Despite competitors now anticipating his sprints, Finke has held his place on the podium.
Fierce Competition at Paris 2024
Heading into Paris, Finke knew defending his Olympic gold wouldn’t be easy. Wiffen, the reigning 800m world champion, dominated in long-distance races throughout the year, while Gregorio Paltrinieri, Rio 2016’s 1,500m champion, remained a fierce rival.
Before the 800m race, Coach Anthony Nesty reminded Finke that his competitors had trained to beat him. Finke took this to heart, staying in fifth position through the first half but surging forward in the final 150 meters. However, Wiffen’s close watch on Finke enabled him to hold his lead.
A New Target Set on the 1,500m
With Wiffen now the swimmer to beat in the 1,500m, Finke is gearing up for another intense race. “I’m really looking forward to racing them in the 1,500m,” Finke shared. “I think we can do something incredible and push past all limits.”
