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Bobby Finke Clocks 7:40.34 800 Free To Break U.S. Open Record

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Saturday Finals Heat Sheet

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – FINAL

  • World Record: 7:32.12, Lin Zhang – 2009
  • American Record: 7:39.36, Bobby Finke – 2022
  • U.S. Open Record: 7:43.32, Bobby Finke – 2022
  • Championship Record: 7:43.32, Bobby Finke – 2022
  • World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 7:53.11
  • 2022 U.S. Trials Top 2 Time: 7:50.07
  • 2022 worlds Medal Time: 7:40.05

Top 8:

  1. Bobby Finke – 7:40.34
  2. Ross Dant – 7:48.10
  3. Will Gallant – 7:50.75
  4. Charlie Clark – 7:51.65
  5. David Johnston – 7:51.70
  6. James Plage – 7:56.36
  7. Alec Enyeart – 7:58.14
  8. Nick Caruso – 7:58.80

On Saturday night at the 2023 U.S. National Championships, Bobby Finke posted a time of 7:40.34 to break his own U.S. Open record by nearly three seconds. The previous record was a 7:43.32 which he clocked last year at the 2022 U.S. World Championship trials.

Finke was also less than a second off of his best time of 7:39.36, which he clocked to win gold at the 2022 World Championships and set the American record.

In his race, Finke was splitting 28-highs and 29-lows, and then closed in a blistering 26.80 final 50. He was significantly faster across the board compared to how he swam last year.

Split Comparison:

Bobby Finke, 2023 U.S. Nationals (new U.S. Open record) Bobby Finke, 2022 U.S. Trials (former U.S. Open record)
50m 26.93 27.10
100m 28.83 (55.76) 29.13 (56.23)
150m 29.03 (1:24.79) 29.02 (1:25.25)
200m 28.97 (1:53.76) 29.20 (1;54.45)
250m 29.15 (2:22.91) 29.38 (2:23.83)
300m 29.10 (2:52.01) 29.13 (2:52.96)
350m 29.11 (3:21.12) 29.38 (2:23.83)
400m 29.08 (3:50.20) 29.30 (3:51.64)
450m 28.99 (4:19.19) 29.37 (4:21.01)
500m 29.05 (4:48.24) 29.23 (4:50.24)
550m 28.98 (5:17.22) 29.46 (5:19.70)
600m 28.93 (5:46.15) 29.03 (5:48.73)
650m 29.30 (6:15.45) 29.25 (6:17.98)
700m 29.06 (6:44.51) 29.05 (6:47.03)
750m 29.03 (7:13.54) 29.10 (7:16.13)
800m 26.80 (7:40.34) 27.19 (7:43.32)
Total 7:40.34 7:43.32

Finke also took down the U.S.Open record in the 1500 free earlier at Nationals in a time of 14:42.51. He will be representing team USA in the both the mens’ 800 and 1500 free races.

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JasonZajonc
1 year ago

What a champion! The dude has made distance swimming cool again! Love it. He comes back like a freaking fish on fire…can’t wait to see if the world record is next…amazing job Finke!!! Legendary swims.

peterpete
1 year ago

This is also a meet record. You guys have missed the meet records in all your articles

Sub13
Reply to  peterpete
1 year ago

If it’s a US Open record at Nationals then I think it’s pretty obvious that it’s a meet record. Do they announce national records and meet records when someone breaks a WR?

peterpete
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Are you arguing for the sake of it?

They usually mention the championship record even if a world record has been set.
They always strike off all records as well.

I’m sure some championship only records were set and not mentioned

Swimfan27
1 year ago

I cannot understand why he doesn’t swim the 400. He has go have at least a 3:46 in him if he goes out in 3:50 here

eye guy
Reply to  Swimfan27
1 year ago

In this race his first 200 + his last 200 would be 3:47.95. So he could obviously be way faster than that given he can do that during an 800 lol

chickenlamp
Reply to  eye guy
1 year ago

I think his official 400 PB is 3:48 lol

Jimmyswim
1 year ago

Now owns the world leading time by 0.05

Boxall's Railing
1 year ago

Dude, just race the 400 free. There’s no way you go over 3:45.

Just Sayin’
Reply to  Boxall's Railing
1 year ago

He was just making sure his buddies made the team. I don’t disagree with you! Big Bobby fan!

Can’t Touch This
Reply to  Boxall's Railing
1 year ago

Him not swimming the 400 makes me irrationally upset 😭

chickenlamp
1 year ago

Pro life seems to be working out well. He historically makes big drops from trials to Worlds/Olympics, so he should have some big swims in store next month

Reilly
1 year ago

Finke was looking really really good all week. Excited to see what he has in store for worlds.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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