2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
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Nic Fink made history on Sunday when he tied two-time defending British champion Adam Peaty for silver in the 100 breaststroke (59.05) just a hair behind gold medalist Nicolo Martinenghi (59.03).
At 31 years old, Fink became the oldest first-time U.S. Olympic swimming medalist in modern history — and the oldest in 120 years if you count 36-year-old Edgar Adams and his silver medal in the “plunge for distance” from the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis.
The plunge for distance was a diving long jump event of sorts, classified as a swimming race, where athletes dove into the pool to see how far they could travel with no propulsive movements of any kind. Because of the forces of intertia, an athlete’s mass often played a positive role in this event.. William Paul Dickey won gold with a distance of 19.05 meters while Adams finished 2nd at 17.526 meters.
The plunge for distance was never contested again at the Olympics after 1904, but was also a part of collegiate swimming for a period too.
The men’s 100 breast final came down to a photo finish, with less than a tenth of a second separating the top four finishers and just two hundredths separating the three medalists. Peaty became the first man ever to capture three Olympic medals in the event.
A six-time world champion in long course, Fink had never won an Olympic medal before tonight. A full-time engineer with a 9-to-5 job, the University of Georgia graduate is the oldest member of the U.S. swimming squad and serves as one of the team captains. Fink turned 31 earlier this month after winning the 100 breast at Olympics Trials last month with a time of 59.08.
It’s the second Olympics for Fink, who placed 6th in the 200 breast (2:07.93) at the Tokyo 2021 edition. Since his Olympic debut, he has continued to build momentum by claiming bronze in the 100 breast at the 2022 World Championships (58.65) and silver at last summer’s Worlds (58.72).
David Plummer was 30 years old when he won bronze in the 100 backstroke (52.40) behind Ryan Murphy (51.97) at his first Olympics in Rio back in 2016.
The Plunge for distance is/was not a diving event. It was part of the early collegiate swim events.
The athlete would plunge from deck with as much force as possible to see how far he could
glide his rotund body down the length of the pool without any other movement.
So happy his PTO request got approved for this! I don’t get very vocal watching the tv but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t cheering him on that last 15m when it looked like he could win
I was the same in the 25 when he was flying home. Just the best story
I’ve been training for plunge for distance, just in case it comes back. I’m 39 years old, hoping to medal in ‘28 or maybe ‘32.
me too, force = MASS * velocity right?
Let’s bring back plunge for distance in 2028!!!
Go dawgs Nic!
No. Anthony Ervin was older medalist. Second oldest
He’s the oldest “First-time” medalist
The title is “Oldest 1st Time Medalist”. Ervin was younger when he won his first medal.
“First time medalist”
The Plunge! Legendary!
Congrats Nic!
Great guy, pride of NJ!