Team USA comes in clutch in Paris Olympics swimming finale

The GIST: It came down to the final races of the Games, but Team USA re-asserted its dominance in the pool, finishing with 28 medals (including eight golds) to remain the most decorated swim program at the Olympics — a standard they’ve held since 1992. Crikey!

World records fall, golds rain in yesterday’s finale: Trailing their Australian rivals in gold medals heading into the final night, American Bobby Finke came up clutch in the 1500m freestyle, smashing a world record and defending his Tokyo gold to give Team USA their only individual men’s title. More cowbell.

• And as has been the trend these Olympics, the American women got the job done: The 4x100m medley relay team secured gold and broke a world record, ensuring Team USA the most golds of all swimming countries.

• In fact, the red, white, and blue’s women swimmers were solely responsible for five of the program’s eight golds.

What’s next: Though the U.S. came out on top, the program's many veterans (with the exception of Katie Ledecky) underperformed in individual races. Now the most decorated American woman swimmer of all time, Ledecky still has eyes on LA 2028, but it will take a splashy next generation for the USA to maintain their world dominance.

• International phenoms and Paris breakout stars like Canada’s Summer McIntosh and France’s Léon Marchand may train in the U.S., but the search for America’s Next Great Swimmer is on.