Bobby Finke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bobby Finke

Finke in 2018
Personal information
Nickname(s)	"Bobby"
Born	(1999-11-06) November 6, 1999 (age 26) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in
Weight	172 lbs
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Distance freestyle, individual medley
Club	Saint Petersburg Aquatics
Coach	Anthony Nesty

Robert Christian Finke (born November 6, 1999), known to many as Bobby Finke, is an amazing American competitive swimmer. He is famous for his long-distance freestyle races. Bobby won two gold medals for the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics. These were in the men's 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle events.

He continued his success at the 2024 Summer Olympics. There, he won another gold medal in the 1500 m freestyle. He even set a new world record in that race! Bobby also earned a silver medal in the 800 m freestyle at those Games. He trained at the University of Florida from 2018 to 2022. His coach there was Anthony Nesty. Before college, he swam for the Saint Petersburg Aquatics club team.

Bobby Finke's Swimming Journey

Starting Strong: Early Swimming Days

When Bobby Finke was just 14, he started breaking records! He set a new record in the 800-meter freestyle at the Florida Age Group State Championships. His time was 8:25.20. He then broke the 1500-meter freestyle record too, finishing in 15:56.82. Bobby also won the USA Swimming Open Water Junior Nationals. This meant he was the fastest swimmer under 18 in that race. He even placed seventh overall, competing against older college and professional swimmers.

High School Achievements

Bobby went to Countryside High School in Clearwater, Florida. He swam for his school team and also for the Saint Petersburg Aquatics club. His coach there was Fred Lewis. During these years, Bobby achieved a lot!

In 2017, he qualified for the FINA World Championships as part of Team USA. He also joined the USA Swimming National team. At the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships, he took second place in the 1500-meter freestyle. His time was 14:55.34. Later that year, at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, he swam the 1500-meter freestyle in 14:48.79. This was one of the fastest times ever recorded! Bobby was also named a two-time NISCA All-American. He was also a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-America, meaning he was great at both swimming and school. He won many state championships in Florida. When he started college, Bobby was considered the top swimmer in Florida for his age group.

Swimming for the University of Florida

From 2018 to 2022, Bobby Finke swam for the University of Florida. He was a very important swimmer for their team. His college coach was Anthony Nesty. While at the university, Bobby won many awards and honors.

He was named an All-American eleven times! He also became a champion in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) multiple times. For example, he won the 1650-yard freestyle in 2020 and 2019. He also won the 400-yard individual medley in 2019. Bobby was even named the Co-SEC Freshmen Swimmer of the Year in 2019. He became an NCAA Champion in 2021 for both the 400-yard individual medley and the 1650-yard freestyle. In 2022, he won the NCAA Championship in the 1650-yard freestyle again. After the 2022 NCAA Championships, Bobby became a professional swimmer. He still trains at the University of Florida with Coach Anthony Nesty.

Qualifying for the 2020 Olympics

In November 2020, Bobby competed at the 2020 U.S. Open Swimming Championships. He won a gold medal in the 1500-meter freestyle. He also earned silver medals in the 800-meter freestyle and the 400-meter individual medley.

In June 2021, Bobby was chosen to represent the United States at the Tokyo Olympic Games. He earned his spot by winning both the 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle races. This happened at the US Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska.

Double Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Bobby Finke made a huge splash at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo!

2020 Summer Olympics
	800 metre freestyle	7:41.87 (NR)
	1500 metre freestyle	14:39.65

In his very first Olympic race, the men's 800-meter freestyle, Bobby won a gold medal! He also set a new American record with his time of 7:41.87. He then went on to win another gold medal in the men's 1500-meter freestyle. His time was 14:39.65. This made him the first American man to win that event since 1984!

What was really exciting was how he won. In both races, Bobby was behind with only 50 meters left. But he had an incredible burst of speed at the very end! In the 1500-meter race, he swam the last 50 meters in just 25.78 seconds. This was much faster than anyone else in the final!

Qualifying for the 2024 Olympics

In June 2024, Bobby competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He swam in both the men's 800-meter freestyle and the men's 1500-meter freestyle. He won both races! This meant he earned his place to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was ready to defend his gold medals.

Medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Bobby Finke continued his amazing Olympic journey at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris!

2024 Summer Olympics
	800 metre freestyle	7:38.75
	1500 metre freestyle	14:30.67 (WR)

He competed in both the men's 800-meter freestyle and the men's 1500-meter freestyle. In the 800-meter freestyle, he won a silver medal. He finished with a time of 7:38.75.

Then, in the 1500-meter freestyle, Bobby won another gold medal! He was the only U.S. male swimmer to win an individual gold at these Games. He also set a new world record with an incredible time of 14:30.67! This time, Bobby led the race from start to finish. He swam his final lap in just 26.27 seconds.

Bobby Finke's Amazing Records

Bobby Finke has set some incredible records in swimming!

He set the world record in the 1500-meter freestyle. This happened when he won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a time of 14:30.67.

Bobby first set an American Record in the men's 800-meter freestyle at the 2020 Olympic Games. He swam it in 7:42.72 in the heats. Then, in the final, he broke his own record with a time of 7:41.87. He lowered this record again at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships to 7:39.36. A year later, at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, he made it even faster at 7:38.67.

At the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, Bobby also broke the American record in the 1500-meter freestyle. His time was 14:36.70. He then reset this record at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships with a time of 14:31.59.

Bobby also holds the U.S. Open record for the 800-meter freestyle. This is the fastest time ever swum on U.S. soil. He first set it in 2022 with 7:43.32. He then lowered it to 7:40.34 in 2023.

He also owns the U.S. Open record in the 1500-meter freestyle. He set it in 2023 with 14:42.81. He broke it again at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials with a time of 14:40.28.

In a short course pool, Bobby set the American record in the 1650-yard freestyle. He achieved a time of 14:12.08 at the 2020 SEC Championships.

International Competitions

Meet	400 freestyle	800 freestyle	1500 freestyle	400 medley
PACJ 2016	1st (b)			1st (b)
WC 2017			21st
PAC 2018	8th	5th	3rd (h)
OG 2020
WC 2022
WC 2023
OG 2024

Bobby Finke's Best Times

Awards and Special Honors

• Golden Goggle Awards Male Athlete of the Year: 2022, 2024
• Golden Goggle Awards Male Race of the Year: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

About Bobby Finke's Family

Bobby Finke was born in Tampa, Florida, on November 6, 1999. Swimming runs in his family! His mother, Jeanne, swam for Ball State University. His father, Joe, is a swim coach with Saint Petersburg Aquatics. Bobby also has two older sisters who are swimmers. Autumn Skye Finke swam for the University of Florida. Ariel Summer Finke swam for Florida State University and North Carolina State University.