
Nineteen years ago I sat at a New Jersey swimming meet and noticed a 12-year-old boy dive in the pool to do the 100-meter individual medley.
Looked smooth and fast.
Really fast.
But this wasn’t altogether unusual. I saw dozens of really fast swimmers back then. Seriously, Jersey was – and still is — loaded with great swimmers.
It didn’t occur to me that day I was watching a young kid who would one day win an Olympic medal. That idea was so far away, not even a thought at the time. The Olympics? You have to be incredible to win a medal there. And it’s not just supreme talent you need. You better be tough.
But from that day on I kept hearing about this young man. Among the gaggle of nationally ranked swimming stars in New Jersey his name kept coming up: Nic Fink.
From friends who knew him I heard about what a nice guy he was. Not arrogant. Humble, actually, and that was so refreshing to hear. A phenom who was down to Earth.
He wasn’t just a swimmer. He played other sports. He was unusual in that way; most high-level swimmers focus all their athletic time in the pool.
As time went on I kept hearing about him. Out of all those really talented swimmers he kept rising high, to the highest level in the state. So impressive.
Then off to University of Georgia on a swimming scholarship. More updates about Nic kept coming in. Qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials, then made the team, then in Tokyo Olympics in 2021 finished fifth in the 100-meter breaststroke. That kid had turned himself into the fifth fastest break stroker in the world.
High achiever, indeed. Raw talent.
At that point I figured he would call it a career. Time to turn the page. He was 27 years old.
But he didn’t. He kept swimming.
I assume, though I do not know, he kept on going with one main thing in mind: winning an Olympic medal that had eluded him.
It’s often hard to understand, but some people just keep going after what they want to achieve, and until they get it they just won’t stop. No matter how many years it takes.
Nic is now 31 years old. Last night – 19 years after I first saw him dazzle in the pool – I watched him, while thrilled, win the Silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Paris Olympics.
Finally, on the podium.
At the Olympics.
Coming into the wall last night, he did what he always seems to do: accelerated. He pushed and pulled and called on all his physical and mental strength to get to that wall. Touched it.
Tied for second place.
The second fastest breaststroker in the world. Right now. Today. Period.
An American hero for the rest of his life. Etched his name in the all-time record books as an Olympic medal winner – and there aren’t that many people who can make that claim.
I revere this guy’s moxie. Refused to give in. Wouldn’t walk away from the sport even when it may have been easier.
Getting on with his life after swimming seemed like a reasonable idea in 2021. Swimming was great but it felt just time to do more things on land.
Hey Nic, you proved you’re a world class swimmer. No one would ever dispute that and you already had everybody’s respect and admiration.
But you kept going. You had unfinished business that none of us can understand the way you do.
That’s my read.
You demonstrated the great American ideal: keep going until you reach your goal no matter how long it takes, no matter how disruptive it is to your life, no matter how many people ask you why, no matter what. No one knows what’s inside you. Except you.
After Tokyo in 2021 you summoned the will to keep going to practice when the vast majority of swimmers your age call it a career. You made a pact with yourself to endure many more hours in the pool. So many boring and monotonous back and forths, head underwater, looking at that black line on the pool floor.
This all takes guts.
It takes character.
It’s wicked cool.
It’s what America is.
Years from now people will ask Nic about his swimming career and he’ll be able to tell them he won Silver at the 2024 Olympics.
People he tells will be impressed, naturally. But what they will not appreciate and understand – only Nic will – was how long he waited, how much practice he suffered through, how many times he doubted he would ever get the medal.
Nic Fink did the unthinkable, took the rugged road, refused to stop regardless of anything in pursuit of greatness, to get what he hoped for and wanted.
And we all witnessed the culmination of that incredible life journey on Sunday night.
Your story, Nic Fink, is an American fairytale come true. You are America the beautiful.
You are forever a national treasure and a spiritual leader for all of us who think about quitting but know there’s a better way so we refuse to stop.
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Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here:
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