Paris 2024 swimming: Bobby Finke, Gregorio Paltrinieri and Daniel Wiffen... the rivals that hurt together and win together

Every time USA’s Bobby Finke, Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri and Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen are in a room together, there is banter and friendly jabs.

Age is a common topic – Paltrinieri is five years older than Finke and six years older than Wiffen – so are past swimming races, and… suffering. And after racing the gruelling 800m and 1500m freestyle at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, there are many tales of suffering to tell.

"It was pretty intense. It was really hard. I'm really tired," Finke told Olympics.com after winning the men's 1500m freestyle on Sunday 4, August by breaking a world record that was set on this exact day 12 years ago, at London 2012. "I'm really going to be feeling it tomorrow."

Wiffen echoed the sentiment.

"That's the most painful 1500 I've ever been in," the Irish swimmer said after finishing third at Paris La Defense Arena, before recalling an even more painful race. "Actually, second most. In Fukuoka, World Champs in 2023, I came fourth. That was the most painful 1500. This was second most painful."

Out of this suffering, however, also comes camaraderie. Long-distance swimmers know the challenges that each one goes through more than anyone else. And even when split up on the podium, their mutual respect shines through.

"It's definitely the most friendly event out of all the strokes because we all appreciate it," Wiffen said of the 1500m. "We all do the hard training. Nobody's slacking and it shows. And I'm so happy for Bobby to break that record because it was years ago. It was a bad time and it's great to see it broken and being in the race that it was broken in."

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Trio of stars show mutual respect

The past, present and future dove into the Paris La Defense Arena pool on the final night of swimming competition at Paris 2024.

A four-time Olympian, Paltrinieri won gold in the 1500m freestyle at Rio 2016. Finke was the defending champion from Tokyo 2020 where he made his Olympic debut, and Wiffen is the rising star in long-distance swimming.

The Irish swimmer finished below the top 10 in both of his races at Tokyo 2020, but surged to grab a gold medal in the 800m freestyle on his return to the Olympic stage. Finke was second in that 800m race, Paltrinieri third.

Another showdown was in the works for the 1500m. Wiffen had said earlier it would take a world record to win the race and was proven right on the night when all three men pushed their limits as they chased each other over the gruelling 30 laps in the pool.

Finke set the pace from the start, gaining a body length’s lead in the first laps. Paltrinieri was on his tails after the first 50m, also swimming at world-record pace.

"I pushed myself from the start to the finish," the 29-year-old Paltrinieri said. "I wasn't really thinking about anything. Just to try to stay with Bobby as long as possible."

Finke, meanwhile, was thinking many things, mostly about how close Paltrinieri and Wiffen were to him.

"I was very aware of (Paltrinieri being close), and I was very aware of Daniel starting to catch up to us too," Finke said. "I was feeling good throughout the beginning of the race and towards the end of it, it was really starting to hurt a lot, especially that last 400, but I knew going in it was going to hurt and I was OK with that.

"These guys were pushing me the whole way because I didn't want them to catch me, but they were catching me. And I just kept pushing and they kept pushing me."

In the end, however, Paltrinieri and Wiffen's efforts were not enough. The Italian finished 3.88 seconds behind Finke’s world record of 14:30.67, while Wiffen came in third in a time of 14:39.63.

"I knew it was going to take a world record for gold. I'm actually quite good at predicting these things," Wiffen told Olympics.com after the race. "I was hoping I was going to be the one doing it, but tonight I wasn't. To be fair, I was very surprised at the pace at the start, but that's it. I underestimated Bobby's ability to sprint from the start, and that's my fault. He's a great swimmer and he's now one of the best ever."

Sharing the same sheer willpower

As the three men finished the race, all trying to catch their breath, there were scenes of personal celebrations but also celebrations of each other's achievements.

Paltrinieri and Wiffen were the first to reach over the pool dividers to congratulate the gold medallist. The same scene had occurred five days prior, the only difference being that it was then the 800m freestyle gold medallist Wiffen at the centre of attention.

"We've training 26-plus hours a week in the pool," Wiffen said about this gesture of mutual respect. "It's definitely the most gruesome event in the programme and it's the longest. It takes a person with a good mentality and good willpower to really swim this event, and it's definitely the hardest event to do in the swimming calendar."

"We've been competing for a long time, but we are close friends", Paltrinieri agreed. "We text each other sometimes, so I really like them. I understand how many sacrifices they do, as I do, so it's great."

By coming second, Paltrinieri achieved a milestone of his own – returning to the Olympic podium in the event after an eight-year-gap. His time of 14:34.55 at Paris 2024 was also 0.02 seconds faster than his winning time at Rio 2016.

Meanwhile, Wiffen made the podium after finishing 20th in this event three years ago.

These accomplishments did not go unnoticed by their gold medal-winning swimming rival.

"We push each other, and we understand each other," Finke said. "I told Greg that I looked up to him, and Daniel looks up to him. He's 29, so for us to be able to race him (is great) and then, of course, seeing Daniel come up throughout the rankings, I'm excited to see where this event and this sport keeps growing."

From pool to the open water: The rivalry and friendship continues

Wiffen and Paltrinieri will next race each other in marathon swimming on 9 August. Paris 2024 will be the second Olympic Games where Paltrinieri has included the 10km on his schedule - he finished third in the event at Tokyo 2020 - and the first for Wiffen.

Finke’s Paris 2024 Games have come to a close with the racing at Paris La Defense Arena, and Paltrinieri is not sorry to hear it.

"I'm glad we don't have to race Bobby in the open water," the Italian swimmer said with a laugh. "It's going to be difficult because none of us (have tried) the course. I don't know if we can try it the last couple of days now, but it's going to be difficult for sure. I think it's the first time for Daniel so it's going to be 'fun' for him."

Wiffen agreed that an Olympic debut in marathon swimming would be a challenge. But it is one he is looking forward to, however much suffering it may bode for him.

"It's my first start, so I don't know how it's going to go. Maybe it will kick-start my open-water career, but maybe it could also end it," Wiffen said.

"It's going to be a great race. Greg is one of the fastest open-water swimmers ever. To race him in the pool was great, and then to come into his realm and have a go, I'm sure it's going to be a fun race. I'm not sure how I'm going to take the race on because I haven't done it. I don't even know if I can keep attention for an hour and 45 minutes, but it's going to be an experience."