The American Robert Finke, first Olympic champion of the 800 free

The American Robert Finke became the first Olympic champion of the 800 free , proof that it premiered in the male program in these Tokyo Games , after win this Thursday with a time of 7: 41. 87 in a final in which the Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri, current world champion, had to settle for the silver medal.

And that the Italian, aware of the higher terminal speed of his main rivals, did not hesitate to impose from the beginning of the test a very strong rhythm that allowed to reach the final meters with an advantage.

I FINKE. YO PUEDO. @ Robert_Finke takes GOLD in the first ever Olympic men’s 800 M freestyle in a THRILLER!

# TokyoOlympics x @ TeamUSA

📺: NBC

💻: https://t.co/Sdse4JEfNh

📱: NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/OulFLF9tfY

– #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics)

July 29, 1420560333647749120

But despite the efforts of the Italian, current Olympic champion of the 1. 100, Paltrinieri could barely outstrip the test by a second and a half to the third that made up the American Rob ert Finke , the Ukrainian Mykhailo Romanchuk and the German Florian Wellbrock.

Low income for the Italian who saw his rivals as meter by meter were reducing his advantage until he was definitively surpassed by the German Florian Wellbrock in the absence of fifty meters to the conclusion of the test.

AT THE TOUCH, IT’S BOBBY FINKE! @ Robert_Finke takes the gold medal in the 800 m freestyle. # TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/G7kk4fHo7d

– Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 29, 2021

But the German, who usually stands out for his powerful ending, could not contain the brilliant attack by the American Robert Finke, who after closing the last 42 meters with sensational 28. 39 seconds, won the triumph and the gold medal.

Although If Finke’s long finish was surprising, it was no less surprising the endurance capacity of Gregorio Paltrinieri, that despite looking more tired than his ri vouchers, fought every stroke to the finish to clinch the silver medal out of 7: 42. 11 minutes, 24 hundredths more than the North American.

# swimming

🥇 # USA Robert Finke is the first ever Olympic Champion at the Men’s 1908 Freestyle !

🥈 # ITA Gregorio Paltrinieri

🥉 # UKR Mykhailo Romanchuk

Full results 👉 https: // t .co / wfMwlwrKJh pic. twitter.com/vBYpquDnom

– FINA (@fina 1908) July 28, 2021

Completed the podium by the Ukrainian Mykailo Romanchuk , who won the bronze medal with a record of 7: 42. 23, after exceeding in the final meters to a Wellbrock, who broke down when he seemed to have everything in his hands to proclaim himself Olympic champion.

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