Nic Fink is a lot of things. He’s an electrical engineer. He’s a swimmer, too, and a world champion one at that. Now, Fink is an Olympic medalist. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he finally broke through for Team USA, securing a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke and as part of the USA’s Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay.
Fink also earned a silver in the Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay. He stopped by a Raising Cane after returning home from Paris, and the chicken company was gracious enough to have Total Apex Sports out for the event.
Nic Fink Finally Broke Through
Nic Fink was not a new competitor in these Olympic Games. He’d competed in trials before and was part of the American swimming team in Tokyo three years ago. He just didn’t medal, something he admitted was disheartening.
He said, “It was definitely disappointing to bring your podium sweats to a final session and not be able to put them on. So the fact that I was able to hop on the podium, see the flag being raised, and bring home medals not once but three times, it was pretty special.”
Medaling at the Olympics is considered by many to be the pinnacle of athletic achievement. There’s not really a higher level of competition. That’s where Fink finally found success, but he found the highest level in a team event. Swimming is often a solo endeavor- it’s just one swimmer against everyone else or against a specific time.
Fink said winning with his teammates as opposed to in spite of them was something special. “The U.S. takes a lot of pride in their relays and we kind of go into it as a team. We know that we usually bring the most amount of swimmers to the Olympics, so we have a presence on deck and everyone kind of knows who Team USA is,” he stated.
Fink went on to say that they as a unit take pride in their relay times and their team goals even though they also swim by themselves. Overall, Fink’s success makes him the oldest first-time medalist for the United States in 120 years.
He spoke on finding success a little later than others have, saying that there wasn’t something that finally clicked or a change to his process that paid off handsomely. “I think it was literally a culmination of all the work that I used to do when I was younger and how I’ve shifted and adjusted things to my age, where I am in life,” he said. “I started having more of a swim-life balance where I was trying to pursue other things outside of the pool and find a balance that way.”
Electrical Engineering vs. the Olympics
Nic Fink is not a typical Olympic athlete. He rose to fame partly because he’s an Olympian and a top swimmer in the world who also works a standard 9-5 job. His coworkers can now say they work with one of the best swimmers on the planet and someone who’s been adorned with sporting’s highest honor.
He said of his coworkers, “They’ve been nothing but supportive. This whole process has been awesome because I’ve had a weird schedule and I’m kind of going in and out with practices all the time and they’ve been nothing but flexible and supportive. So the fact that I was able to bring home some hardware for the US, I’m sure they really enjoyed it and love following me on TV.”
Fink joked that he might catch some flak for only coming in second on the podium in his race, but he also noted that he was maybe closer to finishing off the podium than to earning that gold. Ultimately, what mattered to him was being able to hear the National Anthem while receiving a medal for his sport, something he hadn’t done before.
The Finks are Expecting
Nic Fink’s wife Melanie Margalis is also an Olympian swimmer. She took home a gold medal in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Now, they both have an Olympic medal to their names and they’re about to welcome a child into the world. But if anyone’s expecting them to build up the next great Team USA swimmer, think again.
Fink said they will certainly work out and will likely swim with and around their child, but they’re not angling to push the baby into the pool. “We will be working out a lot and staying fit and stuff like that. So I imagine the kid will also want to,” the Olympian said. “I don’t think we’ll want to push him into anything. But you know, we’ll be active.”
He also expressed appreciation that his wife was an Olympian as well. There are unique trials that face these athletes, some that laymen might not grasp. Margalis knows what Fink needs to do and when he needs to do it, making it all a lot easier. He said,” We were at a show one time, and drug testing called at intermission. And I felt so bad. I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to take you home. We have to do this.‘ She’s like, ‘No, I understand more than anybody that we’ve got to go and you’ve got to take care of stuff.'”
Nic Fink and LA 2028
Given that the Olympics are every four years, it’s largely difficult to tell whether or not anyone will compete the next time around. It’s possible that plenty won’t. LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant likely won’t compete for Team USA because it’s just too far in the future. A lot of aging occurs over four years.
Nic Fink isn’t as old as those basketball players, but he’s been in this game for a while. As of now, he’s not ready to commit to a home-soil Olympics in Los Angeles for 2028. He wants to take some time before making any decision on the future.
In recent years, the USA’s lead in a lot of sports has shrunk. They’re not the dominant world power they once were in basketball, and a similar phenomenon is happening in swimming. Gone are the days of Michael Phelps, and the world has gotten a lot more talented in the pool.
“It does seem like our lead is shrinking so I’m hoping that the younger swimmers and the next generation, especially leading into LA, take that personally and try to bring USA Swimming back to dominating everybody, which would be really cool for a home games in 2028,” he said.
Conclusion
Nic Fink has worked for years honing his craft and finally winning the medals he worked so hard for in 2024. At 31 years old, he proved it’s never too late to become something legendary, even putting his name on a world record. What the future holds, aside from a new baby and some Raising Cane’s, is anyone’s guess, but it’s hard to bet against Fink after what he’s done so far.
For More Great Content
Are you desiring top-tier content that covers everything? From thrilling sports and intoxicating entertainment news to gaming tips and professional betting advice, Total Apex covers it all. Delve into our no-fluff articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the latest scoops in the gaming industry that will take your experiences to the next level.
Finally, our betting advice will give you a decisive edge over the competition and increase your odds of beating the books. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, Total Apex is your one-stop shop for all things compelling and relevant. Don’t forget we cover Fantasy Sports, too!
Check out all our sites: Total Apex Sports, Total Apex Fantasy Sports, Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Gaming. Out of the ashes of obscurity will rise a beast. Always remember to Respect The Hustle! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports to stay informed.
