Bobby Finke tells Himself to “Settle through the Pain” on last 50 of 800 Free

2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• June 18-25, 2022 (pool swimming)
• Budapest, Hungary
• Duna Arena
• LCM (50-meter format)
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• Day 4 Finals Heat Sheets

The US increased their medal count on night four earning another three gold medals and one bronze medal.

Beginning the exciting night was distance freestyler Bobby Finke who won the men’s 800 freestyle. Finke broke his own American Record swimming a time of 7:39.36 tonight. Finke was behind with 50 meters to go but ran down the pack to capture the gold. This was the first gold for the US in the event and is the fastest American in the event ever by over three seconds.

Finke spoke on his last 50 meters saying, “I was just thinking in my head it is just a 50 left. It is only like 26 seconds of pain and if I can pull off a win it is worth it. I’ll settle through the pain.” Finke split a 25.93 on the last 50, the fastest of the field by almost a full second.

Finke won gold in the event in Tokyo and spoke on the comparison of the two saying, This one means a lot. This whole past year has been pretty stressful. Just coming off of Tokyo and high expectations for myself, this one means a little bit more.” 

Also winning an individual gold for the US tonight was Nic Fink. Fink was the third seed coming into the final of the 50 breaststroke and ended up winning gold in a time of 26.45. That time also set a new American Record. This was the first win in the event ever for the US.

Fink spoke on his win saying,  “Obviously it felt surprisingly good. I didn’t think it was going to feel good, especially going day four, swim number whatever so I was happy that I kind of found my stroke a little bit. The first prelims and semis I think I rushed it a little bit so it was nice to breaststroke on the last one and I knew it was going to be close so I just tried to get hand on the wall as fast as I could.”

Fink also spoke on his American Record saying, “It was a goal, just because Michael and I had a good [team trials] and he got the fingertip touch there. Coming into this meet, you obviously want to be better than you were at trials no matter who you are and what you swim. I knew that was in the realm of possibilities so I was hoping that would be the case, but I was just happy to get the win for the U.S.”

Fink broke the American Record previously set by Michael Andrew at 2022 US International World Trials in April 2022. Andrew swam a time of 26.52 then. Tonight, Andrew swam a time of 26.72 to win a bronze medal.

Andrew spoke on finishing on the podium with teammate Fink saying, “It is always an honor to share the podium with a fellow American and teammate. It would be nice if I was a little higher and we were one-two, but you know, it’s great. I’ll never be disappointed with a podium finish at a world champs and now I’ve got two medals at long-course worlds which is great, but it gives me something to strive for because we would like some shinier hardware.”

The US also shined in the 4×100 mixed medley relay tonight. Closing off the night was the relay of Hunter Armstrong, Nic Fink, Torri Huske, and Claire Curzan. The four swam to a win swimming a time of 3:38.79, winning the event by over two seconds. That time was only 0.23 seconds off of the Championship Record that the US swam in Budapest back in 2017. Fink swam the breaststroke leg of the relay about 43 minutes after winning gold in the 50 breaststroke.

Fink spoke on the relay saying, “That’s an awesome crew. Those guys are young and hungry, and I was confident that I would be able to step up and perform. It made it way easier knowing those guys don’t have much international experience yet and they’re just crushing it! You have to rely on yourself, but most importantly, you have to rely on your teammates in a relay situation like that and everyone delivered.”

Teenager Curzan brought the US home strong on the freestyle leg in the second fastest female freestyle split of the field. Curzan spoke on her finish saying, “I was super grateful for the lead. I knew they were going to kill it, so I was just hoping to carry that momentum and you know it is always a tough race the 100 free, but I think just hearing the crowd and getting that energy before the race really carried me home.”

Also competing for the US tonight was Luca Urlando in the 200 butterfly. Urlando swam a time of 1:54.92 for fifth. Notably, first place finisher Kristof Milak of Hungary set a new World Record in the event.