In a sensational finale to the Olympic swimming events at La Défense Arena, Bobby Finke of the United States shattered a 12-year-old world record in the men’s 1500m freestyle, storming to Olympic gold and cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greats.
The 24-year-old American’s blazing performance ignited a night of record-breaking action, as Sweden’s Sarah Sjoestroem celebrated a crowning achievement in her fifth Olympic appearance by claiming the freestyle sprint double — gold in both the 50m and 100m events.
- Bobby Finke (USA): Broke the 1500m freestyle world record, clinched Olympic gold
- Sarah Sjoestroem (Sweden): Completed historic 50m–100m freestyle double
- USA Women’s Team: Set a new world record in the 4x100m medley relay
- China Men’s Team: Powered to gold in the 4x100m medley relay
Finke’s world record in the grueling 1500m event marked a major milestone for USA Swimming, while Team USA’s women further lit up the arena by smashing their own world record in the 4x100m medley relay, showcasing unmatched depth and cohesion.
Meanwhile, China’s men’s relay team delivered a stunning performance to outpace the competition and claim a hard-fought gold, adding to their dominant presence in the pool throughout the Games.
“It’s an emotional moment — the work, the years, the races — it all came down to this,” said Sjoestroem, reflecting on her fifth Olympic campaign.
The final day of Olympic swimming closed on a high note, with records tumbling, legends rising, and nations leaving their mark on the sport’s greatest stage. As the spotlight dims on La Défense Arena, the echoes of world records and roaring crowds will linger as a lasting memory of Paris 2024’s aquatic excellence.
