Bobby Finke Reflects on Disappointing Pan Pacific Champs
Three-time Olympic champion Bobby Finke expressed disappointment after his performances at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships.
Swimming's elite gathered at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, California, for the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships. The event, held from August 12-15, featured top athletes competing in various disciplines.
Bobby Finke, a three-time Olympic champion, seemed less than thrilled with his results. Finke placed second in the 800m and third in the 1500m and 400m individual medley events.
While Finke's 400m individual medley time of 7:42.52 was faster than his previous performances at the 2025 World Championships, it still fell short of his American record of 7:38.67. His 1500m time of 14:44.26 was also far off from his best time at the 2025 World Championships (14:36.60) and his previous world record of 14:30.67, which was broken by Germany's Johannes Liebmann the day before Finke's event.
Finke expressed his intention to reassess his training approach and potentially shorten his break period. He plans to get back into training sooner than last season, aiming to improve his performance in future competitions.
### Performance Comparison
| Event | Finke's Time | Previous Best Time | | --- | --- | --- | | 400m Individual Medley | 7:42.52 | 7:38.67 (American record) | | 1500m | 14:44.26 | 14:36.60 (2025 World Championships) |
### Finke's Future Plans
Finke's decision to reassess his training approach and shorten his break period may indicate a shift in his strategy. By getting back into training sooner, he aims to improve his performance and potentially break his own records in the future.
