Nic Fink Shines with Silver Medal in 100m Breaststroke at Paris Olympics
MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morris County’s claim to fame in the world of swimming grew even stronger this weekend as Nic Fink, a Pingry School alum from Morristown, clinched a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This remarkable achievement adds to the region’s growing reputation for producing top Olympic talent.
In a nail-biting final, Fink finished in a tie for silver with two-time defending champion Adam Peaty of Great Britain, both clocking 59.05 seconds. They narrowly missed out on gold, which went to Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi, who edged them out by just two hundredths of a second. The podium ceremony was a memorable one, with Martinenghi inviting both Fink and Peaty to join him for a celebratory selfie after the national anthems.
At 31, Fink is now the oldest first-time USA Swimming Olympic medalist since Edgar Adams in 1904. Reflecting on his achievement, Fink, who serves as a USA Swimming co-captain, shared, “It’s just a number in some sense but in another sense, it means more. To have this much success this late in life has been icing on the cake and a lot of fun.”
From Pingry to Paris: Fink’s Journey to Olympic Glory
Fink’s path to Olympic success began at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, where he was a standout swimmer, setting state records and earning titles such as Swimmer of the Year. He continued his impressive career at the University of Georgia, where he became a 19-time All-American and a four-time Southeastern Conference 100 breaststroke champion.
A five-time world champion in the breaststroke, Fink has been a mainstay on Team USA since 2013. Despite missing out on the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, he made a significant impact at the 2020 Tokyo Games, finishing fifth in the 200-meter breaststroke.
In Paris, Fink’s performance added to the success of USA Swimming’s “Jersey Boys,” a group of top American swimmers from New Jersey. His achievement in Paris, alongside Jack Alexy of Mendham—who contributed to the U.S. gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay—cements Morris County’s status as a breeding ground for Olympic talent.
Balancing Career and Training
After the Tokyo Olympics, Fink earned a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Georgia Tech. He now works remotely as an assistant project manager for Quanta Utility Engineering Services, balancing his professional career with his training regimen. Fink often brings his work laptop to training camp, staying connected with his colleagues between swim practices.
Fink and his wife, Melanie Margalis Fink, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, reside in Dallas. They are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their first child—a boy—expected in mid-September. Fink trains at Southern Methodist University, where Margalis Fink serves as an assistant women’s coach.
Fink’s story is not just about medals and records but also about resilience and dedication. As he continues to inspire with his achievements, Morris County can proudly boast of its latest Olympic hero.
