Smith, also 23, said that the world championships is just as fierce as the Olympics. These are the types of meets he loves to compete in.

“When the pressure grows is when I thrive the most,” he said. “I usually can hit some good time drops. For me this year, it’s about advancing to the finals and putting myself in a good spot to hopefully contribute to the medal count.”

Next year at this time, both swimmers will likely be preparing for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. If they make it to the Games, it would be the second Olympic experience for both swimmers, with Paris likely to be a vastly different experience than Tokyo.

“If I make the team, I’ve got a feeling these two Olympics will be pretty different from each other,” Finke said. “You know, 2021 obviously was part of COVID. There was no attendance from fans or anything like that, no family, leaving immediately after your last event.

“I really don’t know what to expect from the next Games in Paris, and I think going into it that way is going to help a lot.”

Smith said that the 2024 Olympics is part of his two-year process.

“The focus is on the Olympics next summer to become a two-time Olympian,” he said. “The goal is going to be putting myself on relays as well as my individual races.

“Like Bobby said, the ’21 games were really interesting because there was a world pandemic. I would be eager to take what I learned from those Games and use it towards a very beneficial experience at the next one.”

When Finke competed in Tokyo two years ago, he came from behind to win both of his golds. He said that wasn’t by design, as he likes to start fast when he can. While his race strategy has changed over the years, he knows one thing will remain constant about his performances.

“If I go out fast, I’m still going to make sure I have that (closing speed) the last 50 (meters) under my belt,” he said. “I hope my competitors know about it, too, because it might get in their head, and it will help me do better. Just knowing I have that finishing speed is always helpful when it comes to the end of a race … especially like the mile and 800.”

The former Gator teammates have gotten to travel around the world to compete together. While there have been a lot of desirable destinations, Finke said the people that he gets to travel with make the experiences more enjoyable.

“I’ve never been out of the country other than swimming,” Finke said. “So, to be able to do it, especially with a great group of guys such as Team USA, it’s just an honor.”

Bobby Finke And Kieran Smith Continue To Improve Each Other

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