Bobby Finke announced on 24 Jun 2026 his intent to chase the men’s 800‑free world record, a mark set by Zhang Lin (7:32.12) at the 2009 World Championships. The U.S. star, who swam a 14:30.67 1500‑free at the Paris Games, now lines up with Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi and Australia’s Sam Short as the trio targets the long‑standing record.

Who is leading the charge?

Jaouadi, the 20‑year‑old who won both the 800‑free (7:36.88) and 1500‑free (14:34.41) at the 2025 Singapore World Championships, says the record is “possible” despite the gap. Short, fresh off a 2025 national title, posted a 7:38.20 in the Australian trials, positioning himself as a serious contender. Finke’s recent 1500‑free world record, set on 2 Aug 2024 in Paris, gives him the speed pedigree to threaten the 800 distance.

Why the 800‑free matters for Finke

The 800‑free has resisted post‑suit era attacks; no swimmer has dipped below 7:35 since the polyurethane era ended in 2010. Finke’s 1500‑free pace—averaging 58.0 seconds per 100 m—suggests he can sustain a sub‑7:35 split if he can tighten his turn technique. Coaches note that his recent training block in Austin focused on “negative splitting” the 800, a strategy that could shave crucial seconds off the world‑record pace.

What does the competition look like?

Jaouadi’s 7:36.88 places him third on the all‑time list, just behind Ous Mellouli (7:33.60) and Zhang. Short’s 7:38.20 sits within the top‑ten, while Finke’s 1500‑free record still sits several seconds ahead of the 800‑free mark, highlighting the gap he must bridge. The trio will likely meet at the 2026 World Championships in Budapest, where the 800‑free final is slated for 12 Jul.

How will Finke prepare?

Finke’s camp in Fort Lauderdale plans a mixed‑distance regimen: two 800‑free sets at race pace, followed by 400‑free sprint work to sharpen his finishing speed. Nutritionist Laura Chen emphasizes a higher carbohydrate load to sustain the longer lactate threshold needed for an 800‑free world‑record attempt. And the mental side? Finke says he visualizes “swimming each 100 m a fraction faster than the last,” a tactic that helped him shave seconds off his 1500‑free time in Paris.

What’s next for the record hunt?

The next major test arrives at the U.S. Nationals on 3 Aug 2026, where all three swimmers have entered the 800‑free. A sub‑7:34 swim there would signal a realistic chance to finally break Zhang’s 2009 benchmark. For now, the swimming world watches as Bobby Finke adds his name to the shortlist of athletes poised to rewrite distance swimming history.