2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- When: Pool swimming: Saturday, July 24 – Sunday, August 1, 2021
- Open Water swimming: Wednesday, August 4 – Thursday, August 5, 2021
- Where: Olympic Aquatics Centre / Tokyo, Japan
- Heats: 7 PM / Semifinals & Finals: 10:30 AM (Local time)
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The Olympics have officially seen their first podium in the men’s 800 freestyle, with American Bobby Finke coming from behind to finish on top.
Finke, who set the American record in the event during prelims, shattered his standard tonight, swimming a time of 7:41.87 to take the gold medal.
American Record Split Comparison
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Bobby Finke – 2020 Olympic Games Finals
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Bobby Finke – 2020 Olympic Games Prelims | Michael McBroom – 2013 World Championships | |
| 100m | 56.42 | 56.11 | 56.98 |
| 200m | 1:54.97 | 1:54.23 | 1:55.76 |
| 300m | 2:53.52 | 2:52.65 | 2:54.21 |
| 400m | 3:51.97 | 3:50.91 | 3:52.80 |
| 500m | 4:50.63 | 4:49.44 | 4:51.17 |
| 600m | 5:48.96 | 5:47.60 | 5:49.84 |
| 700m | 6:46.89 | 6:45.46 | 6:47.97 |
| 800m | 7:41.87 | 7:42.72 | 7:43.60 |
Reigning world champion Gregorio Paltrinieri finished second in a time of 7:42.11. Paltrinieri’s podium finish was also a surprise to some, as he barely qualified to compete in the final, finishing 8th out of prelims. The Italian superstar was diagnosed with mono earlier this year, which hindered his performances at the European Championships.
Ukraine’s Mykhailo Romanchuk touched third, slightly off of his prelims time of 7:41.28. However, he still earned a bronze medal for his efforts.
Finke’s time now ranks him 13th all-time in this event, while Romanchuk and Paltrineri remain at 8th and 6th all-time, respectively.
All-Time Performers – Men’s 800 Freestyle
| 1 | ZHANG LIN (CHN) | 7:32.12 | 2009 |
| 2 | Oussama Mellouli (TUN) | 7:35.27 | 2009 |
| 3 | Sun Yang (CHN) | 7:38.57 | 2011 |
| 4 | Grant Hackett (AUS) | 7:38.65 | 2005 |
| 5 | Ian Thorpe (AUS) | 7:39.16 | 2001 |
| 6 | Gregorio Paltrinieri(ITA) | 7:39.27 | 2019 |
| 7 | Gabriele Detti (ITA) | 7:40.77 | 2017 |
| 8 | Henrik Christiansen (NOR) | 7:41.28 | 2019 |
| 9 | Mykhailo Romanchuk(UKR) | 7:41.28 | 2021 |
| 10 | Wojciech Wojdak (POL) | 7:41.73 | 2017 |
| 11 | Florian Wellbrock(GER) | 7:41.77 | 2021 |
| 12 | Ryan Cochrane (CAN) | 7:41.86 | 2011 |
| 13 | Bobby Finke(USA) | 7:41.87 | 2021 |
Paltrinieri took the race out quickly, splitting 55.15 over the first 100m, ahead of Jack McLoughlin, Finke, Romanchuk, and Florian Wellbrock.
Over the next 400 meters, Paltrinieri managed to hold on to the lead, extending it to about 3 seconds. The same group of McLoughlin, Finke, Romanchuk, and Wellbrock remained tightly bunched, battling behind Paltrinieri for the minor medals.
Then, at the 600 meter mark, Romanchuk made his move, pulling away from the pack and challenging a fading Paltrinieri. Meanwhile, Finke began to fall back from McLoughlin and Wellbrock, seemingly falling out of medal contention.
At the final turn, it appeared to be a battle between Romanchuk and Paltrinieri for the gold medal, as the men sprinted to the finish. However, on the final 50, Finke closed in a monster 26.39 to run down the field. Finke managed to get his hand to the wall first, winning the first Olympic gold in the men’s 800 free.
FIRST TIME OLYMPIC SWIMMING CHAMPIONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY
By country:
- United States – 20
- Great Britain – 6
- Germany/East Germany – 3
- Australia/Australasia – 2
- Hungary – 1
- Netherlands – 1
- Yugoslavia – 1
Women:
| EVENT | YEAR | SWIMMER | COUNTRY |
| 50m freestyle | 1988 Seoul | Kristin Otto | East Germany |
| 100m freestyle | 1912 Stockholm | Fanny Durack | Australasia |
| 200m freestyle | 1968 Mexico City | Debbie Meyer | United States |
| 400m freestyle | 1924 Paris | Martha Norelius | United States |
| 800m freestyle | 1968 Mexico City | Debbie Meyer | United States |
| 1500m freestyle | 2020 Tokyo | Katie Ledecky | United States |
| 100m backstroke | 1924 Paris | Sybil Bauer | United States |
| 200m backstroke | 1968 Mexico City | Lillian Watson | United States |
| 100m breaststroke | 1968 Mexico City | Durdica Bjedov | Yugoslavia |
| 200m breaststroke | 1925 Paris | Lucy Morton | Great Britain |
| 100m butterfly | 1956 Melbourne | Shelley Mann | United States |
| 200m butterfly | 1968 Mexico City | Ada Kok | Netherlands |
| 200m IM | 1968 Mexico City | Claudia Kolb | United States |
| 400m IM | 1964 Tokyo | Donna de Varona | United States |
| 400 free relay | 1912 Stockholm | Great Britain | Great Britain |
| 800 free relay | 1996 Atlanta | United States | United States |
| 400 medley relay | 1960 Rome | United States | United States |
Men:
| EVENT | YEAR | SWIMMER | COUNTRY |
| 50m freestyle | 1988 Seoul | Matt Biondi | United States |
| 100m freestyle | 1896 Athens | Alfred Hajos | Hungary |
| 200m freestyle | 1900 Paris | Frederick Lane | Australia |
| 400m freestyle | 1908 London | Henry Taylor | Great Britain |
| 800 Freestyle | 2020 Tokyo | Bobby Finke | United States |
| 1500m freestyle | 1908 London | Henry Taylor | Great Britain |
| 100m backstroke | 1908 London | Arno Bieberstein | Germany |
| 200m backstroke | 1900 Paris | Ernst Hoppenberg | Germany |
| 100m breaststroke | 1968 Mexico City | Don McKenzie | United States |
| 200m breaststroke | 1908 London | Frederick Holman | Great Britain |
| 100m butterfly | 1968 Mexico City | Doug Russell | United States |
| 200m butterfly | 1956 Melbourne | Bill Yorzyk | United States |
| 200m IM | 1968 Mexico City | Charlie Hickcox | United States |
| 400m IM | 1964 Tokyo | Dick Roth | United States |
| 400 free relay | 1964 Tokyo | United States | United States |
| 800 free relay | 1908 London | Great Britain | Great Britain |
| 400 medley relay | 1960 Rome | United States | United States |
That race was hands down one of the best races I have ever seen in my entire life
Finke is going to win 1500 free
So far, a UF grad has medaled in all contested men’s freestyle events except the 200.
Bobby and Kieran are both rising seniors, so they haven’t graduated yet. Nesty’s phone is about to be ringing off the hook with blue-chip recruits. Florida is the future.
That was the greatest, like Misty Hyman making Australian kids call it the Hyman stroke. Took it to the titans of distance swimming and shoved it down their thoat.
Congrats to Finke, but my heart goes out to Gregorio. He had mono one month ago and still came back from disappointing heats and raced like a tiger. What a champ! I already admired him, now I worship him
This man is a racer!
IF ever there was a guy who deserved the gold, it was Finke!
The closing 30 meters were simply brilliant on his part – and the touch on the wall, perfection!
26.3 coming home … just unbelievable
That was the most impressive last 50 I have ever seen. Absolutely a super human effort! I am lost for words to adequately describe how incredible that race was. Congratulations to Bobby and his coaches. I am breathless.