Bobby Finke Challenges Gretchen Walsh to 50 Freestyle Showdown on USA Swimming Podcast

Bobby Finke of the United States of America shows the silver medal after competing in the 1500m Freestyle Men Final during the 20th World Aquatics Championships at the Marine Messe Hall A in Fukuoka (Japan), July 30th, 2023.
Bobby Finke -- Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
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Bobby Finke Challenges Gretchen Walsh to 50 Freestyle Showdown on USA Swimming Podcast

Over the past three years, Bobby Finke has established himself among the world’s top distance swimmers. After winning Olympic gold medals in both the 800 and 1500 freestyle in 2021, both upsets and both in come-from-behind fashion, Finke has since added four World Championship medals in the distance events, including silver in a down-to-the-wire mile last year, where Finke became the third-fastest performer ever.

But how about his sprinting abilities? Could he beat Gretchen Walsh, the fastest short course yards swimmer ever in the 50 free plus three of the four 100-yard races? During this past college season, when Walsh became the first female ever to post a 19-second relay split for the 50 free, Finke’s training partners in the University of Florida pro group expressed doubt that he could go that fast. Finke recalled the scene in an appearance this week on USA Swimming’s Kick Set podcast.

“After watching Gretchen Walsh break 20 for the first time, we were in practice that night. They were all like, ‘Bobby, you’re going to get smoked by her,'” Finke said. I had to stand there and try to defend my honor.”

The 24-year-old rebutted that he thought he would be able to match the Virginia swimmer’s explosive speed. “Short course, (if) I’m shaved (and) tapered, I’m getting under 20 no matter what. I have to. I have to,” Finke said. “Long course, though, I don’t know. I want to be 23-high. That might be too confident for me to say.”

A 50-yard race between the two swimmers might be forthcoming after Finke challenged Walsh when the two encountered each other at the recent TYR Pro Swim Series in San Antonio. Walsh responded that the race had to be in short course, where she could take advantage of her incredible turns and underwaters that have allowed her to dominate the college scene on behalf of her Cavaliers.

“My 0.76 reaction time, I don’t know if it’s going to hold,” Finke said. “I got some good underwater. I don’t get to showcase them, OK?”

Walsh then confirmed the forthcoming race with a post to her Instagram story. “Challenge accepted,” she wrote.

Check out Finke’s full appearance on the Kick Set podcast here.

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RCP
RCP
14 days ago

Maybe the most hotly anticipated 50-free challenge since Biondi v. Jager. When do tickets go on sale? Sign me up now.

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Robert Strauss OLY'72
Robert Strauss OLY'72
14 days ago

Fastest male distance swimmer vs fastest female sprinter, sounds like a plan… Ron Johnson in Mexico 1965 – 1973 did games like this! I recall it was a close race usually won by the male swimmer. We didn’t have the best sprinters in the world, and at the time we had a great group of men and women training in the altitude, that did a very good job in 1968, including a world record at Santa Clara Int’l by Guillermo Echeverria.

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Honest swim fan
Honest swim fan
12 days ago
Reply to  Robert Strauss OLY'72

16:28.1

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