Tuesday, November 2, 2021
For Bobby Finke, Two Olympic Golds are Just the Beginning
Believe it or not, Bobby Finke didn’t go into either of his Olympic finals this summer expecting to win gold.
In his mind, just being among the top-8 swimmers in the both the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle events in Japan was accomplishment enough.
A medal of any color would be icing on the cake.
“I was the third (seed) going into the final of the 1500, so I figured if I matched that, I could win bronze, and if I went faster (than in prelims), I might win silver. I was never expecting to win gold,” said Finke, who won both events at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming in Omaha to qualify for the Olympics.
Fortunately for Finke, the icing on both of his cakes ended up being a bright, beautiful gold – ending the United States’ 30-plus-year drought in the 1500 and going an American-record time of 7:41.87 to win the men's 800m freestyle in its Olympic Games debut.
Finke’s win in the 1500m freestyle was the first for U.S. men at the Olympics since Mike O’Brien won gold at the 1984 Soviet-boycotted Los Angeles Games. Finke’s win came against a loaded field, including defending Olympic champion and pre-meet favorite Gregorio Paltrinieri.
“It’s (Finke's wins) definitely a testament to the amazing people in my life who have helped and encouraged me to train and work hard,” he said. “My family, my coaches, my friends, my teammates – everyone played in role in helping me.”
In both events, Finke trailed the leaders throughout but kept close before making his move over the final 50 meters.
He admitted his sprint training with Coach Anthony Nesty at the University of Florida definitely paid dividends.
Finke said he knew his speed would be there at the end when he needed it.
“That was my strategy; ride their (leaders) hips until the final lap and then make my move,” he said. “I cut it a little closer than I wanted in the 800, but I had enough at the end to sprint.”
Finke’s road to Olympic glory started at 2016 Olympic Trials, where, as a 16-year-old, he finished seventh in the 1500m free.
Later that summer, at Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Maui, Hawaii, he brought home titles in both distance freestyle races – setting new meet records in the process.
A year later, he competed against the best in the world at the senior level at the 2017 FINA World Championships, focusing on getting big-meet experience and finishing 21st in the 1500m free.
After a strong showing at 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, where he was fifth in the 800m and ninth in the 1500m free, Finke was scheduled to compete at the 2019 World University Games but withdrew after injuring his wrist. He was the favorite by a large margin in the 1500m and also was the favorite in the 800m.
Heading into that spring, he enjoyed a successful SEC Championship meet and was ready to challenge for NCAA titles when NCAA Championships were canceled due to COVID.
When swimmers across the world – himself included – were displaced from their training pools for weeks and even months, Finke said he and his Saint Petersburg Aquatics club teammates (he went home during COVID) decided to make the most of the situation and not get frustrated or disappointed.
The simply took a dip in the bay – as in Tampa Bay.
“A friend of mine has a dock on Tampa Bay, so my teammates and I would go there and swim in the bay when we didn’t have pool access,” Finke said. “We did that every day, and we enjoyed it. It was a nice break from the pool and still doing something in the water.”
Finke said he knew that Trials would eventually be canceled in 2020, but, again, didn’t get disheartened that his Olympic dream would have to wait another year.
“I’m a firm believer in accepting what you can control and not stressing over what you can’t (control),” he said. “I was feeling really good physically and about my training heading into that Trials year, but when Trials were canceled, I decided to spend the next year really focused and surrounded by a great group of coaches and teammates.”
While Finke was able to realize his Olympic dream a year later than he originally thought, he said, despite all of the COVID restrictions in Japan, he thoroughly enjoyed his overall experience in Tokyo.
For him, just being there was adventure enough – but leaving with gold made it a dream come true.
“I have an insane love-hate relationship with the 1500 free, and even after winning gold in the 800, I went into that event without much confidence even though it’s always been my baby,” Finke said. “I knew I had a shot, but I also knew it was a tough field.
“To end my meet with another gold was absolutely amazing –and to do it the same way I did to win the 800 was really special. I attribute everything I’ve accomplished to my great family, great coaches and great friends who have always supported me. Winning gold was my way of saying thank you.”
And what does the future hold for the two-time Olympic champion?
With the next Olympic Games less than three years away, he’s focused on finishing out what might be his final year of collegiate swimming with more NCAA titles (he won two earlier this spring), graduating next year with his degree in construction management and continuing to get faster as he prepares for next summer’s U.S. National Championships.
From there, it’s all about continuing to take the necessary steps to be right back in the pool for the 2024 Los Angeles Games and another shot at Olympic gold.
“I have another year that I can swim collegiately after this season,” he said. “But I know, regardless of what I do, I plan to stay here at Florida and train with Nesty and my teammates – especially my newest teammate, Katie Ledecky.
“It’s great having her here to train with every day, and I’ve already learned something by watching her. She is one heck of a trainer, and I know swimming alongside her is going to make all of us be so much better.”
In his mind, just being among the top-8 swimmers in the both the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle events in Japan was accomplishment enough.
A medal of any color would be icing on the cake.
“I was the third (seed) going into the final of the 1500, so I figured if I matched that, I could win bronze, and if I went faster (than in prelims), I might win silver. I was never expecting to win gold,” said Finke, who won both events at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming in Omaha to qualify for the Olympics.
Fortunately for Finke, the icing on both of his cakes ended up being a bright, beautiful gold – ending the United States’ 30-plus-year drought in the 1500 and going an American-record time of 7:41.87 to win the men's 800m freestyle in its Olympic Games debut.
Finke’s win in the 1500m freestyle was the first for U.S. men at the Olympics since Mike O’Brien won gold at the 1984 Soviet-boycotted Los Angeles Games. Finke’s win came against a loaded field, including defending Olympic champion and pre-meet favorite Gregorio Paltrinieri.
“It’s (Finke's wins) definitely a testament to the amazing people in my life who have helped and encouraged me to train and work hard,” he said. “My family, my coaches, my friends, my teammates – everyone played in role in helping me.”
In both events, Finke trailed the leaders throughout but kept close before making his move over the final 50 meters.
He admitted his sprint training with Coach Anthony Nesty at the University of Florida definitely paid dividends.
Finke said he knew his speed would be there at the end when he needed it.
“That was my strategy; ride their (leaders) hips until the final lap and then make my move,” he said. “I cut it a little closer than I wanted in the 800, but I had enough at the end to sprint.”
Finke’s road to Olympic glory started at 2016 Olympic Trials, where, as a 16-year-old, he finished seventh in the 1500m free.
Later that summer, at Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Maui, Hawaii, he brought home titles in both distance freestyle races – setting new meet records in the process.
A year later, he competed against the best in the world at the senior level at the 2017 FINA World Championships, focusing on getting big-meet experience and finishing 21st in the 1500m free.
After a strong showing at 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, where he was fifth in the 800m and ninth in the 1500m free, Finke was scheduled to compete at the 2019 World University Games but withdrew after injuring his wrist. He was the favorite by a large margin in the 1500m and also was the favorite in the 800m.
Heading into that spring, he enjoyed a successful SEC Championship meet and was ready to challenge for NCAA titles when NCAA Championships were canceled due to COVID.
When swimmers across the world – himself included – were displaced from their training pools for weeks and even months, Finke said he and his Saint Petersburg Aquatics club teammates (he went home during COVID) decided to make the most of the situation and not get frustrated or disappointed.
The simply took a dip in the bay – as in Tampa Bay.
“A friend of mine has a dock on Tampa Bay, so my teammates and I would go there and swim in the bay when we didn’t have pool access,” Finke said. “We did that every day, and we enjoyed it. It was a nice break from the pool and still doing something in the water.”
Finke said he knew that Trials would eventually be canceled in 2020, but, again, didn’t get disheartened that his Olympic dream would have to wait another year.
“I’m a firm believer in accepting what you can control and not stressing over what you can’t (control),” he said. “I was feeling really good physically and about my training heading into that Trials year, but when Trials were canceled, I decided to spend the next year really focused and surrounded by a great group of coaches and teammates.”
While Finke was able to realize his Olympic dream a year later than he originally thought, he said, despite all of the COVID restrictions in Japan, he thoroughly enjoyed his overall experience in Tokyo.
For him, just being there was adventure enough – but leaving with gold made it a dream come true.
“I have an insane love-hate relationship with the 1500 free, and even after winning gold in the 800, I went into that event without much confidence even though it’s always been my baby,” Finke said. “I knew I had a shot, but I also knew it was a tough field.
“To end my meet with another gold was absolutely amazing –and to do it the same way I did to win the 800 was really special. I attribute everything I’ve accomplished to my great family, great coaches and great friends who have always supported me. Winning gold was my way of saying thank you.”
And what does the future hold for the two-time Olympic champion?
With the next Olympic Games less than three years away, he’s focused on finishing out what might be his final year of collegiate swimming with more NCAA titles (he won two earlier this spring), graduating next year with his degree in construction management and continuing to get faster as he prepares for next summer’s U.S. National Championships.
From there, it’s all about continuing to take the necessary steps to be right back in the pool for the 2024 Los Angeles Games and another shot at Olympic gold.
“I have another year that I can swim collegiately after this season,” he said. “But I know, regardless of what I do, I plan to stay here at Florida and train with Nesty and my teammates – especially my newest teammate, Katie Ledecky.
“It’s great having her here to train with every day, and I’ve already learned something by watching her. She is one heck of a trainer, and I know swimming alongside her is going to make all of us be so much better.”