Bobby Finke sets world record, wins gold in 1500m freestyle

NANTERRE, France — Bobby Finke saved Team USA from glory with a world record swim and an Olympic gold medal on the final day of swimming at the Paris Olympics.

He won gold in the men’s 1500-meter freestyle for the second consecutive Olympic Games. His time of 14:30.67 was a new world record in the men’s 1500-meter freestyle.

Finke won a silver medal in the men’s 800m freestyle earlier this week.

BOBBY ONE AFTER THE OTHER. 🇺🇸🥇

Bobby Finke successfully defends his gold and sets a new WORLD RECORD in the men’s 1500m freestyle! #Olympic Games in Paris photo.twitter.com/twiA6dVVjL

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2024

Finke’s victory was the only one for an American man in an individual event at these Olympics. Had he fallen short, it would have been the first time since 1900 that the U.S. men had not won an individual swimming gold at the Olympics, with the exception of the boycotted 1980 Games.

This story is being updated.

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(Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)