By Ian Ransom
PARIS (Reuters) – American Bobby Finke smashed the men’s 1,500 metres freestyle world record at the Paris Games on Sunday as he retained the gold medal in a thrilling swim.
After 30 lung-busting laps, Finke touched the wall in 14 minutes, 30.67 seconds at La Defense Arena, eclipsing Sun Yang’s previous mark of 14:31.02.
Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri took silver, with Daniel Wiffen taking the bronze for Ireland.
Finke became the first male swimmer to go back-to-back in the gruelling 30-lap event since Australia’s Grant Hackett in 2000-04 and the first American since Mike Burton in 1968-72.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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