Robert Finke
Robert Finke (born November 6, 1999) is an American swimmer. He won two gold medals for the United States in the 2020 Summer Olympics: the men's 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle swims. Finke is known to his friends by the nickname, Bobby. He currently swims for the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Before swimming in college, Bobby swam for Coach Fred Lewis on the Saint Petersburg Aquatics club team (also known as SPA), located in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Career. Early career. At 14 years old, Finke broke the Florida Age Group State Championships (FLAGS) 800 m freestyle meet record with a time of 8:25.20. He proceeded to break the 1500m freestyle meet record, dropping over 15 seconds, for a time of 15:56.82. Finke also won the USA Swimming Open Water Junior Nationals by finishing first of all swimmers under 18 years of age. Finke was finished seventh overall in a field that included both the pro open water swimmers as well as collegiate swimmers. High school career. Finke graduated from Countryside High School in Clearwater, Florida, where he competed with his high school team. He also swam club for Saint Petersburg Aquatics, where he  was coached by Fred Lewis. Finke accomplished much during his high school years. Finke became a Team USA World Championship qualifier at FINA in 2017, and a member of the USA Swimming National team. At the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships Finke finished second in the 1,500-meter freestyle in 14:55.34. Finke posted the third-fastest time ever in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships with a mark of 14:48.79. He also became a two-time NISCA All-American and a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-America. Finke also was a state champion in several  swimming events in Florida's Division 4A. Entering college, Finke was ranked the No. 18-ranked recruit overall, and No. 1 swimmer in the state of Florida for the 2018 class. College career. Robert Finke is currently swimming for the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Finke helped the Florida Gators swimming and diving men's team at the University of Florida score lots of points in their 2019, 2020, and 2021 Conference Championship meets. Finke's head coach is Anthony Nesty. During his time at University of Florida, Finke earned a plethora of accolades. Some of these accolades are  Four-time All-American, 2020 All-SEC First Team, 2020 SEC Champion (1,650 Free), 2020 SEC Academic Honor Roll, 2019 SEC Champion (1,650 free and 400 IM), 2019 All-SEC First-Team, 2019 Co-SEC Freshmen Swimmer of the Year, and 2019 SEC All-Freshman team. 2021 Olympic Trials. In 2021 Finke became one of 53 swimmers named to represent the US at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. He qualified in both the men's 800m freestyle and 1500m freestyle, placing first in both events. 2020 Summer Olympics. In his first Olympic event, Finke won the gold in  the men’s 800m freestyle, setting a new American record with a time of 7:41.87. He also placed first in the men's 1500m freestyle with a time of 14:39:65, making him the first American man to win the event since 1984. In the finals of both events, Finke was behind with 50 meters to go, but made a last-minute surge to win. He swam the final 50 meters of the 1500 in just 25.78 seconds, more than a full second faster than any split by any other swimmer in the finals. It was also faster than  any competitor's final lap in the men's 200m finals and more than half a second faster than the 26.39 seconds for his own final 50 meters in the 800m. Records. Finke's time of 7:41.87 at the 2020 Olympic Games in the men's 800m freestyle is an American record. His time of 14:12.08 in the men's 1,650-yard freestyle at the 2020 SEC Championships is also an American record. Personal life. Finke was born in Tampa, Florida on November 6, 1999. Finke's mother Jeanne swam for Ball State, while his father Joe  is a swim coach with Saint Petersburg Aquatics. Finke also has two older sisters: Autumn Skye Finke, who swam for the University of Florida, and Ariel Summer Finke, who swam for Florida State University and North Carolina State University.