Clearwater Olympian Brings Home Another Gold For Team USA

Author Ted Kamikaze

July 29th, 2021 9:26 AM

He was a longshot, but we all know Gators know how to swim!  Clearwater‘s Bobby Finke brought home the gold medal last night!  The 21 year old Florida Gator surprised the world coming from behind in the men’s 800 meter freestyle.  A last minute surge pushed him past an Italian swimmer to take first place.  It was a personal best time for Finke and he’s now the first US swimmer to win gold in an Olympic distance race since 1984, according to USA Today.

Before college, Bobby swam for the St. Petersburg Aquatics club team. Born in Tampa, Bobby’s parents are also accomplished swimmers. At just 14 years old, he was setting records. He graduated from Countryside High School in Clearwater.

Watch this! Jump ahead to the 4 minute mark to see the incredible finish to the race. [Sources: USA Today, Wikipedia]
 

Bobby Finke in Action

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Gold medalist Robert Finke of Team United States poses with the gold medal for the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials – Swimming – Day 5

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  OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 17: Bobby Finke of the United States reacts after competing in the Men's 800m freestyle final during Day Five of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 17, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Silver medalist Gregorio Paltrinieri of Team Italy, gold medalist Robert Finke of Team United States and bronze medalist Mykhailo Romanchuk of Team Ukraine pose with their medals for the Men's 800m Freestyle Final the on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials – Swimming – Day 5

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  OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 17: Bobby Finke of the United States competes in the Men's 800m freestyle final during Day Five of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 17, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Gold medalist Robert Finke of Team United States poses with the gold medal for the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials – Swimming – Day 7

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  OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 19: Bobby Finke of the United States prepares to compete in a preliminary heat for the Men’s 1500m freestyle during Day Seven of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 19, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Gold medalist Robert Finke of Team United States poses with the gold medal for the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States (R) reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

• Phillips 66 National Championships – Day 5

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  STANFORD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 04: Bobby Finke looks on from the pool deck after winning the Men's 800m Freestyle final during day 5 of the Phillips 66 National Championships on August 04, 2019 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
• Toyota U.S. Open Swimming – Sarasota

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  SARASOTA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 13: Robert Finke competes in heat 2 of the Men's 400 meter IM during the U.S. Open Championships at Selby Aquatic Center on November 13, 2020 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials – Swimming – Day 4

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  OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 16: Bobby Finke of the United States competes in a preliminary heat for the Men’s 800m freestyle during Day Four of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 16, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Gold medalist Robert Finke of Team United States poses with the gold medal for the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials – Swimming – Day 5

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  OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 17: Bobby Finke of the United States competes in the Men's 800m freestyle final during Day Five of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 17, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials – Swimming – Day 7

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  OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 19: Bobby Finke of the United States reacts after competing in a preliminary heat for the Men’s 1500m freestyle during Day Seven of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 19, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States competes in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

• Swimming – Olympics: Day 6

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  TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 29: Robert Finke of Team United States celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Men's 800m Freestyle Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

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Author Ted Kamikaze

Category:

• Summer Games
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Clearwater,Countryside High School,Olympics,Sports,Swimming,Tampa