PARIS — New Jersey native Nic Fink and British great Adam Peaty will share a memorable place in swimming history — and not just because they tied for silver in one of these Olympics' most exciting races.
They both achieved a measure of late-career glory, reaching the podium in the 100-meter breaststroke, after having taken strong measures to de-emphasize swimming in their lives.
Fink, 31, who has a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Georgia Tech, has been working full-time since last year and swims only when he’s off the 9-to-5 clock.
Peaty, who holds the world record in the 100 breaststroke, very publicly took a break from swimming last year to work on mental health issues and spend more time with his son.
“It’s an awesome experience," Fink told NBC News on Monday. "I mean, Adam’s a legend in the sport, and for him to go through everything he went through to find his way back to an Olympic podium is amazing. And you know, the fact that I was able to share the podium, let alone share a medal with him, is a huge honor."
The American and the Brit finished with identical times of 59.05, barely behind the gold medalist at 59.03, Nicolò Martinenghi of Italy, and just ahead of fourth-place German swimmer Melvin Imoudu at 59.11.
After the race late Sunday at Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, Fink reflected on his new approach to life and how it differs from earlier times when he'd "eat, sleep, swim, rinse and repeat" and throw "the kitchen sink" at this sport.
That Fink won his first Olympic medal while working his day job proved to him that he needs that kind of balance in life.
"I actually think that having the job and pursuing more life things keeps me balanced and well-rounded," he said Monday. "So, you know, just putting my energy and effort into something else while still focusing on swimming, still wanting to be elite, has only helped me, I think, in the pool."
Peaty, 29, had to fight back tears Sunday night thinking about family and his journey to the podium.
He said his toddler George regularly asks him whether he’s the “fastest boy” in the world. And even if he wasn’t that Sunday, he said, he couldn’t have been happier with the results.
“I mean, you’re going to make me cry again any time you talk about my boy,” a smiling Peaty said after a reporter asked him about his son.
“In the car some days, when you have bad days ... my son asks me, ‘Daddy, are you the fastest boy in the world?’ and [I say] ‘Mate, I sure hope so.’ But not today, not today. And I really truly believe this was meant to be, because in my heart, I’m so happy.”
Even if there were times when self-doubt paralyzed Peaty — who still holds the world and Olympic records for this event at 56.88 and 57.13, respectively — no hole is too deep to find a way out, he said.
"So I did it, you know, for my son. And my, this whole 14 months has been to show that you can literally get to the bottom of the bottom and try and find a way through," he said.
