Bobby Finke saves US swimming team’s blushes with 1500m gold in Paris to keep incredible 120-year streak alive

TEAM USA has been saved from an embarrassing swimming fate by Bobby Finke.

Men’s swimmers for Team USA went through each event without winning a gold medal, and only the 1,500m freestyle was left on Sunday.

AFP

AFP

On that event hinged an incredible streak, Team USA had won gold in every Olympics they competed in for the last 120 years, but the streak was at risk.

The only swimmer left with a chance to continue it was Bobby Finke, and he didn’t dissapoint.

Not only did Finke win the men’s 1,500m freestyle to continue the streak, but he set a new world record in the process.

The American won gold with a time of 14:30:67, shattering the previous record set at the 2012 London Olympics.

“I could see I was half a body length to a body length in front of [the record] at times,” Finke said after the race.

“I knew I was on that pace. That wasn’t really my focus, but I did hit the world record, so I’m really proud of that.”

Finke shared how physically strenuous the race became in the final stretches, but that he had to endure.

“Toward the end it was starting to hurt a lot, especially that last 400 meters,” he said.

“But I knew it was going to hurt.”

Finke was put in such a critical position to win gold for Team USA after a disappointing Olympics from Caleb Dressel.

Dressel didn’t medal in any individual competitions this year, after winning seven gold medals previously in his career.

“Very obviously not my best work,” he said after his competitions ended.

“I’m having a lot of fun, sincerely, but but hasn’t been my best week, not going to shy away from that.

“But the racing has been really fun here.

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“Walking out here to compete in the 100 fly, it’s special and I won’t forget that.

“I’d like to be quicker. Yeah, not my week. A little heartbreaking.”

Team USA did win gold in the men’s 4x100m swim and the 4x100m mixed medley.

On the women’s side, Katie Ledecky put in her usual dominant performance, winning both the 1,500m and 800m race.

Reuters