Robert Christian Finke has emerged as the new star for the U. S. men’s swimming team. American swimmers have found success in the Olympics and World Championships. Mark Spitz’s legendary performance at the Munich Olympics remains unmatched. Then Michael Phelps came along and redefined what an Olympic athlete could achieve after winning 23 golds.

Many regard Katie Ledecky as the finest female swimmer of all time. While Bobby has some big shoes to fill, he couldn’t ask for a better start. Bobby participated in his first Olympic games in 2021 and walked away with two golds. During a recent interview, Bobby shared he is sticking to the formula while preparing for Paris 2024 but trying new things.

Bobby Finke’s swimming coach had a radical idea

Bobby recently won the male athlete of the year award at the Golden Goggle Awards. Shortly after receiving the prestigious award, Bobby sat down for a conversation with NC Sports. The interviewer asked the Olympian, “Are you doing anything differently in terms of training to prepare for Paris?” Bobby’s answer revealed his coach’s radical idea.

The Florida Gators team member said he was sticking to the tried and tested methods. “We add some things in here and there, but we’re not changing the foundation of our training,” said Finke. However, he also said their coach Anthony Nesty often comes up with new ideas to implement during training.

Finke revealed Nesty’s most recent idea was to make the team swim while wearing surgical gloves. “Remove the feel of the water,” said Finke. “I think he came up with that idea when he was cutting chicken at home,” said the Olympic gold medalist. However, their swimming coach also made them wear rubber bands on their wrists in addition to surgical gloves.

READ MORE: Katie Ledecky’s 1500m Freestyle Personal Best Compared to Michael Phelps Would Blow Your Mind

Nesty probably wanted his swimmer to wear rubber bands to secure the gloves. He wanted to ensure water didn’t get inside the gloves, and they wouldn’t come off during practice. 

Katie Ledecky inspires Fikne

During the interview, Bobby also revealed how Olympic legend Katie Ledecky inspired. “She can go fast ALL. THE. TIME. It’s crazy. It’s something I want to be able to do,” Bobby told the interviewer. Finke also revealed Katie told him to have faith in his abilities and that he’ll eventually succeed in reaching his goals.

Like Katie, Bobby also excels at 800m and 1500m freestyle. At Tokyo, Finke set a national record in the 800m freestyle.

Watch this story – Here’s How Katie Ledecky’s Remarkable Swimming Technique Propelled Her to the Top of the World Record Charts

Finke has a bright future and is preparing to better his performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics.