Bobby Finke, U.S. women’s relay team set world records to end Olympic swimming

NANTERRE, France — Bobby Finke and the U.S. women set world records in the 1,500-meter freestyle and 4×100-meter medley on Sunday, adding final touches of glory for Americans, who suffered a relative collapse in the gold market but still took home the most medals from this quadrennial swim meet.

The U.S. made 28 visits to the Paris La Défense Arena podium, but Americans were only on the top step eight times.

While both numbers were more than any other nation, it was a slight step back by supremely high U.S. standards.

American swimmers scored 30 medals and 11 golds in Tokyo (2020); 33 and 16 in Rio (2016); 30 and 16 in London (2012); 31 and 12 in Beijing (2008); 28 and 12 in Athens (2004); and 33 and 14 in Sydney (2000).

No American man had won an individual gold this meet until Finke set his world mark.

The Florida native, who also won the 1,500 in Tokyo, kept a remarkable streak alive: At least one American man has won an individual swimming gold in every Olympics since 1904, with the exception of the 1980 Moscow boycott.

Finke’s record (14:30.67) was set in the last individual race of the meet.

“The whole ‘the men’s team hasn’t won an individual gold medal’ [narrative] was in the back of my mind,” he told reporters. “I was putting pressure on myself to try to get it done again.” 

The quartet of Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske finished the swim meet in style, clocking in at 3:49.62 to win the 4×100 medley relay in dominating fashion.

That American win came moments after one of the most exciting races of the meet, when the Chinese men rallied to grab gold away from the United States in the 4×100 medley, a race the U.S. has won in 15 out of the 16 finals before Sunday night.

The U.S. and France were neck and neck headed into the freestyle before Pan Zhanle’s time of 45.92 slipped China to the front.

The U.S. team of Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Caeleb Dressel and Hunter Armstrong took silver and France the bronze.

While the U.S. and Australia are the most recognizable swimming powers, Dressel said he was impressed by swimmers from Italy, France and China who are on America’s heels.

“The wealth is just getting spread around, we’re not getting any worse,” said Dressel, who took home two golds and a silver from these Games. “It’s good for the sport to have the whole world involved.”