American Swimmer Medals at 31, Breaks 120-Year-Old Olympic Record

In an inspiring display of dedication and athleticism, American swimmer Nic Fink broke a 120-year-old Olympic record on Sunday by tying for the silver medal in the men's 100-meter breaststroke at the age of 31, all while maintaining a full-time job.

• Italian swimmer Nicolo Martinenghi clinched the gold with a time of 59.03 seconds.

• Fink and British champion Adam Peaty touched the wall simultaneously at 59.05 seconds, resulting in a shared silver medal.

• This achievement marks Fink as the oldest American swimmer to medal in the Olympic Games since 1904.

Fink, a New Jersey native, shared his thoughts on the unique experience of splitting a medal: "It’s kind of strange splitting a medal, but I’ve actually split a silver medal before in the 100 breast. It’s kind of funny how it’s happened again," he said, recalling a similar tie at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Japan.

Fink also praised Peaty, acknowledging his legendary status in the sport and his inspiring return to competition following a mental health break: "With Adam, he’s a legend in the sport, and it’s awesome to see his comeback and his return, and to share the podium with him — let alone the silver medal — is an awesome experience," Fink said. He also expressed his excitement about sharing the podium with Nicolo Martinenghi, noting their long history of competing together.

What sets Fink’s achievement apart is not just the impressive time or the rare tie in such a competitive event. At 31 years old, he became the oldest American swimmer to medal in the Olympics in modern history. According to SwimSwam, Fink is the oldest first-time U.S. Olympic swimming medalist since Edgar Adams, who won a silver medal in the now-discontinued "plunge for distance" event at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis.

This remarkable feat underscores Fink’s exceptional commitment and perseverance, balancing the demands of a full-time job with the grueling training regimen required for Olympic competition.

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