University of Georgia Athletics
Fast Finish Earns Fink Silver In Paris
July 28, 2024 | The Frierson Files, Men's Swimming & Diving
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
In an Olympic men's 100-meter breaststroke final so tight that seven of the eight competitors finished within .47 seconds of one another, former Georgia All-American swimmer Nic Fink tied for second to earn a silver medal.
During a stellar pro career, Fink had won a heap of medals at world championships, including 10 golds between individual and relay events, but he hadn't yet stood on an Olympic podium until Sunday night in Paris. Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi won the 100 with a time of 59.03 seconds, while Fink and two-time defending Olympic champion Adam Peaty of Great Britain shared second at 59.05, just .02 seconds behind the winner.
It was a furious finish to a neck-and-neck race, with the top four finishers touching the wall almost simultaneously. "That was about as insane a finish as you can conjure up," NBC's Dan Hicks said during the broadcast. Fink was in sixth place at the turn and then closed strong, nearly making gold his first Olympic medal.
Former Georgia coach Jack Bauerle, Fink's coach with the Bulldogs and for many years after, was thrilled to see his former standout excel on the biggest stage in the sport.
"I'm elated," said Bauerle, who watched the race from his home in Athens after serving as a coach at every Summer Games since 1996. "I'm so proud of Nic and happy for him and his family. I know a lot of people might think he'll be disappointed with second, but I've texted with him and he's thrilled. He knows how hard it is (to win) and how hard it is to get an Olympic medal."
The 31-year-old Fink is the oldest member of the U.S. men's swim team and one of its captains. At the World Aquatics Championships in February, it was Fink who won gold in the 100, edging Martineghi and Peaty.
Fink was a four-time SEC champion in the 100 breaststroke (2012-15) and two-time champion in the 200 (2012, '15) and he ranks fourth all-time at Georgia with 19 total All-American honors.
A very good swimmer in college, Fink has blossomed in the years since, becoming world-class in the 100 and 200. And he's done it all while first continuing his post-graduate studies in engineering at Georgia Tech — Fink received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 2015 — and now while working full-time for an engineering firm in Dallas.
"He's incredibly intelligent and he's an incredibly hard worker," Bauerle said. "He's put on about 30 pounds, 30 pounds of muscle, since college, and he's worked extremely hard to get to where he is today. I couldn't be more proud of everything he's achieved."
At the world championships over the past three years, Fink has won a combined 20 medals (10 gold, seven silver, three bronze), including five individual gold medals. He placed fifth in the 200 breaststroke in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics.
After working with Bauerle and his coaching staff for many years, Fink trained at Georgia Tech with former Georgia swimmer (and current Bulldog associate head coach) Michael Norment while earning his master's in electrical and computer engineering. He now trains under SMU coach Greg Rhodenbaugh in Dallas.
"A lot of folks had a hand in his success, but the most important hands were his," Bauerle said.
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Staff Writer
In an Olympic men's 100-meter breaststroke final so tight that seven of the eight competitors finished within .47 seconds of one another, former Georgia All-American swimmer Nic Fink tied for second to earn a silver medal.
During a stellar pro career, Fink had won a heap of medals at world championships, including 10 golds between individual and relay events, but he hadn't yet stood on an Olympic podium until Sunday night in Paris. Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi won the 100 with a time of 59.03 seconds, while Fink and two-time defending Olympic champion Adam Peaty of Great Britain shared second at 59.05, just .02 seconds behind the winner.
It was a furious finish to a neck-and-neck race, with the top four finishers touching the wall almost simultaneously. "That was about as insane a finish as you can conjure up," NBC's Dan Hicks said during the broadcast. Fink was in sixth place at the turn and then closed strong, nearly making gold his first Olympic medal.
Former Georgia coach Jack Bauerle, Fink's coach with the Bulldogs and for many years after, was thrilled to see his former standout excel on the biggest stage in the sport.
"I'm elated," said Bauerle, who watched the race from his home in Athens after serving as a coach at every Summer Games since 1996. "I'm so proud of Nic and happy for him and his family. I know a lot of people might think he'll be disappointed with second, but I've texted with him and he's thrilled. He knows how hard it is (to win) and how hard it is to get an Olympic medal."
The 31-year-old Fink is the oldest member of the U.S. men's swim team and one of its captains. At the World Aquatics Championships in February, it was Fink who won gold in the 100, edging Martineghi and Peaty.
Fink was a four-time SEC champion in the 100 breaststroke (2012-15) and two-time champion in the 200 (2012, '15) and he ranks fourth all-time at Georgia with 19 total All-American honors.
A very good swimmer in college, Fink has blossomed in the years since, becoming world-class in the 100 and 200. And he's done it all while first continuing his post-graduate studies in engineering at Georgia Tech — Fink received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 2015 — and now while working full-time for an engineering firm in Dallas.
"He's incredibly intelligent and he's an incredibly hard worker," Bauerle said. "He's put on about 30 pounds, 30 pounds of muscle, since college, and he's worked extremely hard to get to where he is today. I couldn't be more proud of everything he's achieved."
At the world championships over the past three years, Fink has won a combined 20 medals (10 gold, seven silver, three bronze), including five individual gold medals. He placed fifth in the 200 breaststroke in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics.
After working with Bauerle and his coaching staff for many years, Fink trained at Georgia Tech with former Georgia swimmer (and current Bulldog associate head coach) Michael Norment while earning his master's in electrical and computer engineering. He now trains under SMU coach Greg Rhodenbaugh in Dallas.
"A lot of folks had a hand in his success, but the most important hands were his," Bauerle said.
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Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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