1,500 metres Freestyle, Men

Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri had won the 2015 World Championship, but that was in the absence of China’s Sun Yang, who had won the 400 and 1,500 at the London Olympics. Other medal contenders included American Connor Jaeger, Australian Mack Horton, Canadian Ryan Cochrane, and Italy’s Gabriele Detti.

Sun surprised in the heats by failing to qualify for the final, but all the other medal favorites made it. The lead on the first few laps was taken by Cochrane, but Paltrinieri went ahead at 200 metres and was never caught. He was ahead of world record splits for the first half of the race but could not maintain that pace. Jaeger moved into second at 700 metres, passing Horton, and Jaeger would go on to win the silver medal. Detti was still sixth at 900 metres and did not move up to the bronze medal position until 1,300 metres, but gave Italy two swimmers on the podium. Paltrinieri finished in 14:34.57, almost five seconds ahead of Jaeger, who still set an American record of 14:39.48.