Tag: Bobby Finke

Anthony Nesty named ASCA George Haines Coach of the Year

Team USA’s strong showing at the Paris Olympics helped Florida’s swimming head coach earn the honor this year.

Florida’s swimming head coach [autotag]Anthony Nesty[/autotag] was named the 2024 ASCA George Haines Coach of the Year recipient on Thursday night at the Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Celebration during the ASCA World Clinic at the Rosen Centre Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Nesty was the men’s U.S. Olympic swim team head coach at the summer Olympic Games in Paris, where Team USA earned three golds, four silvers and three bronze medals. Former Gators standout [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] was among those gold medal recipients, setting a world-record time (14:30:67) in the 1500-meter freestyle event.

Finke also earned a silver medal in the 800m free.

Another Florida alumnus, [autotag]Caeleb Dressel[/autotag], took home two gold medals — the men’s 4x100m free relay and mixed 4x100m medley relay — while adding a silver to his mantle with the men’s 4x100m medley relay team.

Former Gator [autotag]Kieran Smith[/autotag] was also part of Team USA’s men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team that swam to a second-place finish.

About the award

This award is presented annually to the individual whose coaching effectiveness has contributed the most towards American swimming excellence on the World stage. Nesty was named one of five finalists on Aug. 21 of this year, joining, Bob Bowman, Todd DeSorbo, Dave Durden, Greg Meehan, who had numerous medalists at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The ASCA Coach of the Year has been awarded since 1961. Past recipients include many greats in the profession, including George Haines, for whom the award is named, Doc Counsilman, Eddie Reese, Bob Bowman, Gregg Troy, Jon Urbanchek and many others. The last three winners have been Dave Durden, Anthony Nesty and Gregg Troy.

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Florida Gators take home 11 medals at Paris Olympics

The Olympics have come to a close after 16 days of world class competition. Here’s how every Florida Gator performed at the 2024 Paris Games.

The University of Florida sent more than 40 current and former Gators to the Paris Olympics this summer, and the Orange and Blue claimed 11 medals in total — four gold, four silver and three bronze.

American swimming legend [autotag]Caeleb Dressel[/autotag] took home gold in two team events, the 4×100 free relay and 4×100 mixed medley relay. Dressel also claimed silver in the 4×100 medley relay; although, the Americans were favorites to take gold in the event.

Florida’s two other golds came from swimmer [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] in the 1,500-meter freestyle and track star [autotag]Grant Holloway[/autotag] in the 110-meter hurdles. Finke set a world record with a time 14:30.67 while defending his 2020 gold from Tokyo and added a silver in the 800-meter free.

The other silver medals come from the pool as well. [autotag]Josh Liendo[/autotag] finished second in the 100-meter butterfly, swimming for Team Canada, and [autotag]Kieran Smith[/autotag] was a member of the 4×200 relay team that placed second.

[autotag]Emma Weyant[/autotag] earned bronze in the 400-meter individual medley, and [autotag]Jasmine Moore[/autotag] placed third in both the long jump and triple jump.

If the University of Florida were its own country, the Gators would have finished tied for 16th with Sweden, which also ended the Games with four gold, four silver and three bronze medals.

Other Gators Results at the Olympics

Swimming and Diving

  • Caeleb Dressel (USA) — 6th in 50-meter freestyle, 13th in 100-meter butterfly
  • [autotag]Luke Whitlock[/autotag] (USA) — 15th in 900-meter freestyle
  • Julie Brousseau (Canada) — 4th in 4×200-meter freestyle relay
  • Josh Liendo (Canada) — 4th in 50-meter freestyle, 6th in 4×100-meter freestyle relay, 11th in 100-meter freestyle
  • Maha Amer (Egypt) — 24th in women’s 3-meter springboard prelimnaries
  • Nicole Maier (Germany) — 5th in 4×200-meter freestyle relay
  • Amro Al-Wir (Jordan) — 23rd in 200-meter breaststroke
  • Aleksas Savickas (Lithuania) — 19th in 200-meter breaststroke
  • Jonny Marshall (UK) — 14th in 100-meter backstroke
  • Alberto Mestre(Venezuela) — 21st in 50-meter freestyle, 37th in 100-meter freestyle
  • Alfonso Mestre (Venezuela) — 19th in 400-meter freestyle, 29th in 800-meter freestyle

Track and Field

  • [autotag]Anna Hall[/autotag] (USA) — 5th in women’s heptathlon
  • [autotag]Grace Stark[/autotag] (USA) — 5th in women’s 100-meter hurdles
  • [autotag]Parker Valby[/autotag] — 5th in women’s 10,000 meters
  • Genevieve Gregson (Australia) — 24th in women’s marathon
  • Wanya McCoy (Bahamas) — 18th in 200-meter semifinals, 41st in 100-meter heats
  • Lloydricia Cameron (Jamaica) — 8th in Group A in women’s shot put
  • Reheem Hayles (Jamaica) — fifth in men’s 4×400-meter relay
  • Jevaughn Powell (Jamaica) — 13th in men’s 400-meter semifinals
  • Hakim Sani Brown (Japan) — 5th in men’s 4×100-meter relay, 10th in men’s 100 meter
  • [autotag]Joseph Fahbulleh[/autotag](Liberia) — 7th in men’s 200-meter, 7th in men’s 4×100-meter relay
  • Alida van Daalen (Netherlands) — 13th in Group B in women’s shot put
  • Thomas Mardal (Norway) — 11th in men’s hammer throw
  • Eddie Garcia (Virgin Islands) — did not finish marathon

Basketball

  • Canyon Barry (USA) — 7th in men’s 3v3
  • Andrew Nembhard (Canada) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8
  • Nick Calathes (Greece) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8
  • Andrea Vilano (Spain) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8

Golf

  • Alejandro Tosti (Argentina) — tied for 18th in men’s tournament
  • Camilo Villegas (Venezuela) — 57th in men’s tournament
  • Sarah Schober (Austria) — tied for 47th in women’s tournament

Gymnastics

  • [autotag]Leanne Wong[/autotag] (USA) — traveled as a reserve

Soccer

  • Adriana Leon (Canada) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8 in women’s bracket
  • DeAnne Rose (Canada) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8 in women’s bracket

Tennis

  • Danielle Collins (USA) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8 in women’s bracket

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Kieran Smith wins silver as late addition to USA 4×200 Free Relay team

After missing the cut in the 400-meter freestyle, Kieran Smith redeemed himself by medaling as the American 4×200 freestyle relay anchor.

After missing the final cut for the 400-meter freestyle, [autotag]Kieran Smith[/autotag] joined the American 4×200 freestyle relay team and helped win silver for the United States at the Paris Olympics.

Smith swam the anchor leg, posting the second-fastest split overall at 1:44.80. He helped secure silver in a race that was Great Britain’s to lose. The British won with a 6:59.43, followed by the United States at 7:00.78 and Australia at 7:01.98.

Smith didn’t swim in the heats, which took place early on Tuesday. 400-meter free bronze medalist Carson Foster, 200-meter bronze medalist Luke Hobson and Smith joined the team late. Hobson handed off to Foster, who handed off to Drew Kibler, the lone holdover from the heats.

Kibler and Smith were both members of the fourth-place team in Tokyo, adding another layer of redemption to the story.

Florida’s medal count is now up to four. [autotag]Caeleb Dressel[/autotag] won gold in the 4×100 freestyle relay, [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] won silver in the 800-meter freestyle and Emma Weyant won bronze in the 400-meter individual medley — all for Team USA.

Kieran Smith as a Florida Gator

Smith spent four years (2018-22) swimming for the Gators, earning 28 All-American nods, four SEC team championships and two national championships.

He burst onto the scene as a freshman, earning SEC Co-Freshman of the Year honors after winning the 200m individual medley with a swim in 2019. As a sophomore, Smith performed even better, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 100m, 200m and 500m freestyle.

Smith won his first NCAA Championship in the 200m freestyle as a junior. He also placed second in the 500m free that year. His second national championship came as a member of the 200m freestyle relay team which set a program record of 1:14.11.

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Bobby Finke takes silver at Paris Olympics in 800m Free

An amazing comeback effort from former Florida swimmer Bobby Finke earned him silver in the 800-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics.

Former Florida swimmer [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] won the silver medal in the 800-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, bringing UF’s 2024 medal count up to three.

Finke missed first place by about half a second, finishing with a time of 7:38.75.

Irish gold medalist Daniel Wiffen edged out Finke with a 7:38.19, while Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri earned bronze with a 7:39.38. All three medalists broke the previous Olympic record (7:41.28) but didn’t come close to the world record (7:32.12) set in 2009.

Finke stayed in fourth or fifth place for the first two laps, pushing ahead to the medal range around the 250-meter mark. Known for his closing speed in the final lap, Finke posted the fastest single-lap split of 26.47 seconds to secure silver. It looked like he had a chance at gold, but Wiffen held him off.

There are two approaches to distance races. Some swimmers like to hold out for the end, such as Finke, and others try to establish an early lead, hoping to stave off fatigue.

Australian Elijah Winnington is an example of the latter. He controlled the race’s first half, leading the pack through 350 meters, but dropped to third at 400 meters and spent the last two laps in eighth place.

This is Finke’s third Olympic medal after winning two golds (800m and 1,500m free) in the 2020 Tokyo Games. He will attempt to defend his gold in the 1,500 starting August 3.

Florida’s medal count moves up to three as well. Caeleb Dressel won gold in the 4×100 freestyle relay, and Emma Weyant won bronze in the 400-meter individual medley — both with Team USA.

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Bobby Finke advances, Alfonso Mestre and Luke Whitlock end Paris Olympics in heats

A trio of Florida Gators competed in the 800-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics Monday, but only Bobby Finke advances to the final.

Three Florida Gators competed in the 800-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics early Monday morning, but only American [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] will continue on to the finals on Tuesday.

Finke placed fifth overall, finishing third in his heat with a 7:43 finish.

Incoming freshman [autotag]Luke Whitlock[/autotag] (USA) placed 15th with a time of 7:49.26, and 2023 graduate [autotag]Alfonso Mestre[/autotag] (Venezuela) placed 29th with an 8:12.03 finish, both missing the eight-man cut for the final.

Mestre finished last in the second heat by nearly 11 seconds. He reached the first turn in fifth place but spent the rest of the swim in eighth. Whitlock placed fifth in his heat, finishing just two splits in fourth place.

Whitlock is the youngest male to make the U.S. Olympic Swimming roster since Michael Phelps in 2000. He’ll train for the 2028 Los Angeles Games while swimming for Florida. His Olympic Trials time of 7:45.19 would have just missed the final cut in Paris, so he’s a future superstar in the making.

Mestre also competed in the 400-meter freestyle two days ago, placing 19th with a 3:48.20.

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Florida swimming and diving represented by 14 Gators at Paris Olympics

Caeleb Dressel and Bobby Finke headline a pack of 14 Gators in the pool at the Paris Olympics this summer.

A total of 14 Gators swimmers and divers will represent the University of Florida at the Paris Olympics this summer.

Current Florida swimmers competing at the 2024 games are Julie Brousseau, Josh Liendo, Jonny Marshall, Nicole Maier, Aleksas Savickas, Emma Weyant and Luke Whitlock. Former Gators that will be competing are Amro Al-Wir, Maha Amer, [autotag]Caeleb Dressel[/autotag], [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag], Alberto Mestre, Alfonso Mestre and [autotag]Kieran Smith[/autotag].

In addition, Florida head coach Anthony Nesty will serve as the U.S. men’s swimming head coach while assistant coach Whitney Hite joins Nesty on staff as an assistant/personal coach for USA Swimming.

Three former Gator swimmers are also present in Paris. Gator Olympic medalist Elizabeth Beisel will help the NBC coverage, while current UF team physician Dr. Katie Edenfield is the team doctor for U.S. Swimming and six-time NCAA champion Julia Gorman is the U.S. open water swimming physical therapist.

[autotag]Katie Ledecky[/autotag], who has been training with the Florida swimming program and has served as a volunteer on the staff, will also be in the City of Lights. She is heading to her fourth Olympic Games after earning a berth in the U.S. Olympic Trials, becoming the ninth U.S. swimmer to qualify at least four times for the sport’s grandest stage.

Florida’s 14 Olympic competitors in pool

Athlete Events Representing Country
Amro Al-Wir 200 Breaststroke Jordan
Maha Amer 3-Meter Springboard Egypt
Julie Brousseau 4×200 Free Relay Canada
Caeleb Dressel 100 Butterfly
50 Freestyle
4×100 Free Relay		 USA
Bobby Finke 800 Freestyle
1500 Freestyle		 USA
Josh Liendo 50 Freestyle
100 Butterfly
100 Freestyle
4×100 Free Relay
4×100 Medley Relay		 Canada
Jonny Marshall 100 Backstroke Great Britain
Nicole Maier 4×200 Free Relay Germany
Aleksas Savickas 200 Breaststroke Lithuania
Alberto Mestre 50 Freestyle
100 Freestyle		 Venezuela
Alfonso Mestre 400 Freestyle
800 Freestyle		 Venezuela
Kieran Smith 400 Freestyle USA
Emma Weyant 400 IM USA
Luke Whitlock 800 Freestyle USA

How to Watch

Pool swimming runs from July 27 through Aug. 4 inside the La Défense Arena. Diving will take place at the Paris Aquatics Centre from July 27 through Aug. 10. Open Water swimming will take place Aug. 8-9 at the Pont Alexandre III venue.

Every day, the NBC broadcast network will provide Olympic fans with live finals coverage of swimming. Additionally, each swimming session will be available on the NBC Olympics website and Peacock.

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Gators sending all-time high 40 Florida athletes to Paris Olympics

There will be a whole gaggle of Gators competing in Paris these next few weeks.

The University of Florida will have a school-best 40 current Gators and alumni at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which kicks off this week in the City of Lights. The Orange and Blue have the fourth-best showing among college institutions.

Compare the 2024 numbers with the 39 UF representatives at the 2008 Beijing Games and 35 at the Tokyo Games in 2020.

In addition to those 40 competitors, Florida has five coaches also in Paris for the games — one of whom will also be competing. [autotag]Anthony Nesty[/autotag] is the head coach for the US men’s swimming team while Whitney Hite is also on the Team USA swimming staff as an assistant and personal coach.

Nic Petersen is Team USA’s jumps/multis coach for men’s track and field while [autotag]Leanne Wong[/autotag]’s coach Owen Field will assist the USA Gymnastics squad. Rhyne Howard will play for USA Basketball in the 3×3 event.

17 Gators are repeat Olympians

Amro Al-Wir (Jordan 2x), Maha Amer (Egypt 2x), Lloydricia Cameron (Jamaica 2x), [autotag]Caeleb Dressel[/autotag] (U.S. 3x), Joseph Fahnbulleh (Liberia 2x), [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] (U.S. 2x), [autotag]Grant Holloway[/autotag] (U.S. 2x), Genevieve LaCaze Gregson (AUS 4x), Adriana Leon (Canada 2x), Josh Liendo (Canada 2x), Alberto Mestre (Venezuela 2x), Alfonso Mestre (Venezuela 2x), Jasmine Moore (U.S. 2x), Deanne Rose (CAN 3x), Hakim Sani Brown (JAPAN 2x), [autotag]Kieran Smith[/autotag] (U.S. 2x) and Emma Weyant (U.S. 2x).

Gators are representing 21 different countries in Paris

Argentina (1), Austria (1), Australia (1), Bahamas (1), Canada (5), Colombia (1), Egypt (1), Germany (1), Great Britain (1), Greece (1), Jamaica (3), Japan (1), Jordan (1), Liberia (1), Lithuania (1), Netherlands (1), Nigeria (1), Norway (1), United States (14), U.S. Virgin Islands (1) and Venezuela (2).

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Florida’s Casey Greenberg earns lone Gators women’s diving Olympics berth

The Florida Gators will be well-represented in Paris for the Olympic Games.

Florida’s diving standout [autotag]Casey Greenberg[/autotag] concluded the U.S. Olympic trials with a 495.20 combined-score performance to finish tenth among her fellow countrywomen, earning her a spot on the Paris Olympics team roster.

Greenberg opened the finals session with a 54.60, adding to her 246.30 semifinal score set Friday night. The rising junior followed that up with a 54.00 on her forward 3 1/2 somersault pike to head into the halfway mark with a 354.90 total score.

The Gainesville native’s next two dives scored below 45.00, but she ended her final attempt on a high note. She scored 55.20 on her forward 2 1/2 somersault 1 twist pike to close her trials competition with 495.20 for 10th place.

GATORS COMPETING IN PARIS

  • Maha Amer – Egypt
  • Julie Brousseau – Canada
  • Josh Liendo – Canada
  • Nicole Maier – Germany
  • Jonny Marshall – Great Britain
  • Alfonso Mestre – Venezuela
  • Alberto Mestre – Venezuela
  • Aleksas Savickas – Lithuania
  • [autotag]Caeleb Dressel[/autotag] – USA
  • [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] – USA
  • [autotag]Kieran Smith[/autotag] – USA
  • Emma Weyant – USA
  • Luke Whitlock – USA

Olympics details

Swimming at the 2024 Olympic Games will be held at the Paris La Defense Arena, located in the city of Nanterre. Indoor swimming kicks off July 27 and runs through August 4; in total, 35 medal events will be competed.

The Olympic swimming competition concludes with the men’s and women’s open water (10km marathon swimming) races taking place Aug. 8-9. The full Team USA roster for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be confirmed in July.

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Gators alumnus sweeps men’s distance events at U.S. Olympic Swimming trials

Bobby Finke earned first-place finishes in both the men’s 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle events, sending him on his way to Paris.

Florida swimming’s former standout [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] defended his 1500-meter freestyle title on Sunday, and in doing so, swept the men’s long-distance competition at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Finke’s final time in the event of 14:40.28 reset the U.S. Open Record he recorded last June. He finished 12 seconds ahead of the second-place competitor this weekend.

The UF alumnus is now set to compete in the men’s 800-meter freestyle and 1500-meter freestyle events at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Four Gators men were named to the U.S. Olympic Team. Head Coach Anthony Nesty will serve as head coach for the U.S. men’s swim team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC MEN’S SWIMMING TEAM

  1. Jack Alexy (100 free)
  2. Hunter Armstrong (4Ă—100 free relay, 100 back)
  3. Shaine Casas (200 IM)
  4. Brooks Curry (4Ă—200 free relay)
  5. Caeleb Dressel (4Ă—100 free relay, 50 free, 100 fly)
  6. Matt Fallon (200 breast)
  7. Nic Fink (100 breast)
  8. Bobby Finke (800 free, 1500 free)
  9. Carson Foster (400 IM, 200 IM)
  10. Chris Guiliano (200 free, 100 free, 50 free)
  11. Ryan Held (4Ă—100 free relay)
  12. Thomas Heilman (200 fly, 100 fly)
  13. Luke Hobson (200 free)
  14. David Johnston (1500 free)
  15. Chase Kalisz (400 IM)
  16. Drew Kibler (4Ă—200 free relay)
  17. Matt King (4Ă—100 free relay)
  18. Keaton Jones (200 back)
  19. Josh Matheny (200 breast)
  20. Ryan Murphy (100 back, 200 back)
  21. Blake Pieroni (4Ă—200 free relay)
  22. Aaron Shackell (400 free)
  23. Kieran Smith (4×200 free relay, 400 free)
  24. Charlie Swanson (100 breast)
  25. Luca Urlando (200 fly)
  26. Luke Whitlock (800 free)

Olympics details

Swimming at the 2024 Olympic Games will be held at the Paris La Defense Arena, located in the city of Nanterre. Indoor swimming kicks off July 27 and runs through August 4; in total, 35 medal events will be competed.

The Olympic swimming competition concludes with the men’s and women’s open water (10km marathon swimming) races taking place Aug. 8-9. The full Team USA roster for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be confirmed in July.

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Florida earns pair of titles on final day of Phillips 66 National Championships

Florida swimming wrapped up the Phillips 66 National Championships on a high note on Saturday claiming a pair of titles on the final day.

Florida swimming wrapped up the Phillips 66 National Championships on a high note on Saturday claiming a pair of titles on the final day of competition. Former Olympians [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] and [autotag]Katie Ledecky[/autotag] swept the 800-meter free and 1500-meter free, respectively, to earn national championships in both events to close things out.

For Finke, it was the second time he gold-medaled during the course of the five-day meet, swimming a 7:40.34 — both a US Open record and the fastest time in the world this year — after claiming the national title in the men’s 800-meter free on Saturday night. He also claimed two other medals in the competition.

Ledeki one-upped him, earning her third national title of the week with a time of 15:29.64 — also the fastest time in the world this year.

Other members of the team who brought in a haul of hardware are Kieran Smith, who finished fifth in the A-Final of the men’s 200-meter individual medley, shaving over a second off his prelim time from Saturday morning. Incoming freshman Bella Sims recorded another strong showing in the 200-meter IM A-Final as well, also finishing fifth with a time of 2:12.15.

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