NANTERRE, France — Bobby Finke and the U.S. women’s team achieved remarkable milestones by setting world records in the 1,500-meter freestyle and the 4×100-meter medley on Sunday, adding a final flourish to the American effort at this international swimming competition. Despite facing a disappointing gold medal tally, the U.S. still led the medal count overall.
The U.S. team secured 28 spots on the podium, but only managed to claim eight gold medals, which is a step down from their historically high standards.
In previous Olympic competitions, American swimmers had earned 30 medals with 11 golds in Tokyo 2020; 33 medals with 16 golds in Rio 2016; 30 medals with 16 golds in London 2012; 31 medals with 12 golds in Beijing 2008; 28 medals with 12 golds in Athens 2004; and 33 medals with 14 golds in Sydney 2000.
Finke’s world record performance marked an important victory for American men, who had not secured an individual gold until this event. The Florida native, a gold medalist in the 1,500 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, maintained an impressive tradition: since 1904, at least one American man has won an individual swimming gold at every Olympics except for the 1980 Moscow boycott.
Finke set his record time of 14:30.67 in the final individual event of the meet. “The whole narrative of the men’s team not winning an individual gold medal was in the back of my mind,” he admitted to reporters. “I was putting pressure on myself to try to get it done again.”
The U.S. women’s relay team, consisting of Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske, finished the competition with a flourish, winning the 4×100 medley relay in a swift 3:49.62.
This victory came shortly after a thrilling race where the Chinese men’s team took gold in the 4×100 medley, ending the U.S. dominance in that event, which they had won in 15 of the previous 16 finals before Sunday night. The U.S. team, featuring Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Caeleb Dressel, and Hunter Armstrong, secured silver, while France took home the bronze.
While the U.S. and Australia are typically seen as the leading swimming nations, Dressel noted the rising competition from Italy, France, and China. “The wealth is just getting spread around; we’re not getting any worse,” said Dressel, who secured two golds and one silver during the Games. “It’s good for the sport to have the whole world involved.”