Men's 1500m Freestyle – 1976 Montreal Olympics – Brian Goodell Breaks World Record

Gold Medal – USA Brian Goodell 15:02.40
Silver Medal – USA Bobby Hackett 15:03.91
Bronze Medal – AUS Stephan Holland 15:04.66

One of the greatest distance races of all time. All three medalists finished under the existing world record, which Goodell had set at the U.S. Trials a month prior.
All three also split under Bobby Hackett's existing world record in the 800m freestyle (8:01.54) on the last 800 meters of the race. In fact, Goodell's final 800 of 7:56.9 was the first time a swimmer had broken the eight-minute-barrier over that distance (though it didn't count as a world record because it was swum at the end of the race).
All three medalists were also teenagers – Holland was 18, Goodell was 17, and Hackett was 16-years-old. Actually, as of March 2021, Hackett's 15:03.91 is the United States National Age Group Record for 15-16 year-olds, despite that he swum the race without a technical suit or goggles.

Stephan Holland, although he only finished with the bronze, still should be considered one of the greatest distance swimmers ever. He is the youngest male ever to break an individual swimming world record (at 15 years and 2 months) from when, in 1973, he broke the 1500 world record by over fourteen seconds. He was also the first swimmer to break 15:50, 15:40, 15:30, and 15:20 in the 1500 freestyle.

Bobby Hackett, who was born and trained in Yonkers, New York, was a gritty young distance swimmer. At a time when a huge majority of elite American swimmers trained in California, Hackett emerged as a dominant force from the east coast. He was famous for training with long, grueling sets, including the infamous 100x100s on a 1:00 interval. Hackett set the world record in the 800 freestyle at the 1976 US Trials with his initial split in the 1500m race.

Brian Goodell, who swam with the Mission Viejo Nadadores in California, was one of the masters of mental training. Over the years of training that led up to this race, Brian would visualize during practice. He would imagine overtaking swimmers in the Olympic final one by one, picture touching the wall in first place, envision standing on top of the victory podium. So when he actually found himself in the Olympic final – in third place, feeling exhausted and in so much pain from racing, losing his focus – he was able to revert to his mental training. He had pictured himself finishing first too many times to settle for third. Goodell roared back on Holland and Hackett to take gold. His last 400 meters were so fast that he would've won that event at the 1972 Olympics by over 3.5 seconds.

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