Finke breaks world record to win men's 1,500m freestyle gold

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.