Team USA brought the curtain down on the Olympic swimming competition in spectacular style, with Bobby Finke and the U.S. women’s 4x100m medley relay team both shattering world records in an unforgettable final night at the Aquatics Centre in Paris.
Bobby Finke, already an Olympic gold medalist from Tokyo 2020, stunned the crowd once again with a jaw-dropping performance in the men’s 1500m freestyle. The Florida-born swimmer powered through the grueling race with his trademark closing sprint, touching the wall at 14:30.15, eclipsing the previous world record by over two seconds.
“I knew I had one shot, and I just gave it everything,” Finke said after the race, still catching his breath. “This one’s for my family, my coaches, and everyone who believed in me.”
Minutes later, the U.S. women’s 4x100m medley relay team delivered another moment for the ages. Regan Smith (backstroke), Lilly King (breaststroke), Torri Huske (butterfly), and Kate Douglass (freestyle) combined flawlessly to clock a 3:50.12, rewriting the world record and clinching gold ahead of fierce rivals Australia and Canada.
“Our team was locked in from the start,” said anchor swimmer Kate Douglass. “We came here not just to win—but to make history.”
The crowd erupted as the scoreboard lit up with record-breaking times. The emotional finale marked a dominant performance for Team USA in the pool, who ended the Games atop the swimming medal tally.
U.S. Head Coach Anthony Nesty, the first Black head coach for the Olympic swim team, praised the athletes’ grit and unity: “These swimmers showed the world what determination and teamwork look like. It’s a night we’ll never forget.”
With Finke’s endurance and the women’s explosive relay, Team USA’s closing acts became defining moments of Paris 2024—ensuring that this Olympic chapter will be remembered as one of speed, strength, and swimming glory.
