The backdrop just a few hundred miles away from his war-torn
Nation Ukraine battling on after the invasion of Russia so
he certainly is
swimming with some emotion tonight trying to bring some
good spirits at potentially a world title back for his
countrymen and women yeah this race means a lot more than just
numbers and
I don't think there's anybody in this Arena.
Including
us fans that are not pulling for
Romansh active to some a great race here.
I know if you're Bobby, think fan and a US citizen, you
certainly want to see him
perform
as best he can. But boy, I tell you
what, this young man has been through at 25 years of age,
I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy and Ramon shook.
A lot of people in this Arena are pulling for this kid.
So rowdy, you've got the defending world champion of
the 800 there and pulse when Thierry in Lane 6, right?
Alongside
Bobby Fink there in Lane
number seven, doesn't matter for Fink Lane and who he's next
to or is he just going to kind of have that final Furious
charge? I don't think so because when you go 26 3 on
the end,
I wouldn't doubt, he's that good at the end again here,
whether it's enough to win the race.
I'm not sure, but
it doesn't matter. He just puts the blinders on and just goes.
He was 55 flat on the last 100. Just to give you a little
perspective just quickly on that 26:3.
The last 50 for Popovich who win the 200 last night was 26, 8
or text. Gives me
20 69, the fastest split on the last 50 laps.
Night was 26 8. So
that's the end of a 200, not the end of an 800.
I mean that's that's the perspective. What 26:3 mean?
Any just kept hanging in there
to get it yourself into position to go that 26th Street
and go. Bye everybody.
So right now top of the screen care make Casta.
Bronze medalist in the 400 free already. At this meet is
first-ever long course, World Championship medal Olympic
finalists in this race last summer. As the early cushion
alternaria there,
they'll Brock to
and think getting into
his Groove.
And I look at
Bobby think down there late. Number 7. You see him right
there.
He just needs to keep everybody in sight. Don't let anybody get
away from him up here in Lane one Kosta that's okay he's
the rabbit, he's not going to be a factor at the end of this race.
His best time he did
it in prelims. I don't think he'll be able to hang on to
that kind of speed. What he's got to do is keep all these
guys in sight and that's a little harder. Like you said,
he
Just doesn't want to lose sight of him and he's really good at
being aware of his surroundings. He has to be
based on what he did last summer and certainly
is the case. Kosta still in front here
in the early portions of this poltroon Thierry,
second Ramon shook, in third, yo, Bobby think Rowdy
talking this week,
we were asking him, was there a point in the race? Where you
felt like, If I'm going to win this, this is how I'm going to
win. And he said, the only thing that came into my mind
when I started catching up to Vermont, show
was that's the only strategy I had to just try to pass him.
Not really thinking about how fast the last 50 was going to
be just trying to pass people like a
car on the freeway. Try to make it to work on time, a good
analogy and then he was able to do that and look up and all of
a sudden its goal,
he knows lately it, let's get back to strategy for a second
evil. He knows he's breathing
to Bobby think right now,
that's the only guy he needs to worry about
at the end of this race, he can withstand charges against
everybody except for this guy over there right here
Bobby Fink is one that he's got to keep an eye on. So he
I think he needs it at least this distance ahead of him
at least, the body link on Bobby Fink
to have a chance Bobby's in perfect position. Right now,
certainly the A metal
but if he keeps it just like this
he's got a chance to go. Right by Ramon Shook at the end
high-low Ramon shook 25 years of age from Ukraine
and trying to hold this lead pulse Ranieri
defending World Champ there and second Bobby Fink lurking among
the top three. Right now though Here Comes veld, Rock starting
to kick it into a higher gear.
You know, it's funny last summer we are watching this
Dan? And I are calling it.
I didn't talk about Bobby feet during I didn't even say,
hey, look at Bobby pink. Look at Bobby fake. We never really
even gave him any credibility
because we just blow us all away. That last 50. Well, this
time, I'm not going to do that. Keep an eye on Bobby Fischer.
He said, fourth exactly where he was last supper, right in
stalking distance where he made his move
last summer in thrilling fashion in Tokyo E0
right now,
the man from Ukraine.
He's done cut the boy
look at him go I'm talking about Ramon qu Chi is way out
there, fake got a lot of room to make up now a lot of room.
Maybe just too much
everybody over a second behind is the bell sounds into this
final stretch here of the men's 800 Ramon shook his father. His
coach went off to join the military to defend his country.
Tree and the swimmer said, the best thing that I can do in my
life. I'll try to defend my country in the blue Lanes of
the pool
and trying to defend it and bring home gold for Ukraine.
Now, is they get ready for what should be? A wild 50 think on
the charge now, but the other Heavy Hitters ready to roll to.
Here, he comes, here he comes, here he comes.
Bobby Fink looking for another
come-from-behind. Swim here into the lead. The American,
can he do it again? Like Tokyo. Yes,
Bobby Fink hitting the gas to another goal.
Phil, Brock with silver Ramon shoe, gets bronze, and Bobby
Fink
breaks his American record that he set in Tokyo
with another phenomenal swim.
Wow.
We used to say you've been Lee's that,
we're Jason leagues acts amazing anchor on that
Foreigner for your relay. Back in Beijing. It's
definitely going to end up saying you've been finked
25:9.
Remember I said 26:3, dude, he 25:9 on the end of that.
Oh, I see some, my mind is literally blow. I don't know
what the second of that.
How do you,
how do you comment on something like that? And Rowdy,
the interesting thing at last summer was so unexpected for
his competitors. Now, are they constantly thinking where is
he,
when's he coming?
Because he's done it again. He's right.
Their head man,
that guy is in your brain and he ain't leaving.
Wow, well, a pair of Gold's in Tokyo
in dramatic fashion and now first half of another potential
golden double for Bobby Fink as he takes it in the 800 free,
well it was just like Tokyo Bobby forth the first and
the last 50 meters,
take us through that last length of the pool,
you know, I was just thinking in my head, it's just
it's just a 50 left. It's suddenly like
26 seconds of pain and
I can pull off a
And it's it's worth it. You know, I'll settle through
the pain.
You told us earlier this week that you might change our
strategy. What was your strategy going into the race?
My strategy going into the race was just to try and like
actually wanted to be in front by last 50 and then just like
really pound last with you but
things changed. When a romantic started pulling away, we got
another. Broke your own American record went under
7:40. How is this one compared to the golden Tokyo for you?
I think this one.
Even though it was an Olympics last year, this one means
a lot. This this whole past year has been pretty stressful just
coming off the Tokyo and just like my expectations for
myself. So
this this one means a little bit more. Thank you very much.
Congratulations. Thank you.