Nic Fink on Breaststroke Being an ‘Old Man’s Event’

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Reported by James Sutherland.

MEN’S 200 BREAST FINAL

  • World Record: Anton Chupkov (RUS) – 2:06.12 (2019)
  • American Record: Josh Prenot – 2:07.17 (2016)
  • US Open Record: Josh Prenot (USA) – 2:07.17 (2016)
  • World Junior Record: Qin Haiyan (CHN) – 2:07.35 (2017)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: Dmitriy Balandin (KAZ) – 2:07.46
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Josh Prenot – 2:07.17
  • Wave I Cut: 2:17.89
  • Wave II Cut: 2:15.28
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:10.35
  1. Nic Fink (ABSC), 2:07.55
  2. Andrew Wilson (ABSC), 2:08.32
  3. Will Licon (TXLA), 2:08.50

Any potential drama in the men’s 200 breaststroke was put to a stop by the finishing flourish of Nic Fink, as the University of Georgia alum turned a tight four-way battle with 50 meters to go into a dominant victory in a time of 2:07.55.

Fink, who dealt with a wrist injury towards the end of 2020, split about a perfect a race as you could do in the 200 breast, out in 28.9 before 32.5/33.0 on the middle 100 and then a 32.98 coming home, demolishing his previous best time of 2:08.16 to become the fourth-fastest American of all-time.

This is also the first Olympic berth for the 27-year-old, who was a close third in the 100 breast on Monday night.

In This Story

20
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

20 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jacko
3 years ago

Self loathing ex four year all American swimmer here. After reading these comments I now understand the self loathing part

cynthia curran
3 years ago

Take the women you can be a kid Amanda Beard and then 27 years old in her last Olympics. Leisel Jones swam several years. Penny Heyns. Rebecca Soni was 25 in her 2nd Olympics. In fact some breastrokers men or women make it past 25 years old for the Olympics’

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  cynthia curran
3 years ago

“Leisel Jones swam several years”

That’s an understatement.

Jones was in final in 4 Olympics: Sydney all the way to London.

Daaaave
3 years ago

At 2019 World Champs Wilson beat MA in prelims in the 100 despite being the 2nd qualifier at trials for that team. He was 8th the morning (MA was 19th in prelims–missed taper/busy schedule?–doesn’t matter now). Wilson was 5th in the semis and ended up 6th in the very fast final.

For the relay, MA swam prelims (59.7) and Wilson swam finals (58.6). Both did their job.

Point is, Wilson will arrive in Japan with experience swimming through the rounds. MA is now the AM record holder and will arrive with experience on that stage as well. Fink is a good insurance plan for the 100 but we should expect the two guys who qualified to do just fine–barring… Read more »

Virtus
3 years ago

MA goes 58 high at Tokyo then fink for the relay 🤭

anonymous
Reply to  Virtus
3 years ago

Nick did not earn the relay spot.

Buster
Reply to  Virtus
3 years ago

Nic Fink who went 58 high to miss qualification in the 100?

swimmer
Reply to  Buster
3 years ago

58.5 in semis

anonymous
Reply to  swimmer
3 years ago

MA 58.1 in semis new American Record. He is not on the bench

Ghost
Reply to  anonymous
3 years ago

If Michael or Andrew W don’t do well on the first day, then there is a possibility of Nic swimming prelims of the medley! And if he is lights out, then they could use him at night!? This is what happened with him at 2019 Pan Ams. Remember all relays are up to coaches discretion at the meet to anyone that is on the team. Not just freestyle relays, but medley relays also!

anonymous
Reply to  Ghost
3 years ago

Not at the Olympics.

Jack
Reply to  anonymous
3 years ago

No, it’s coach’s discretion at the Games, too. Remember in 2004 when they let Crocker swim finals of the medley relay despite him not earning the spot?

anonymous
Reply to  Jack
3 years ago

No coach is going to take Andrew Wilson or Michael Andrew off the relay.

anonymous
Reply to  Jack
3 years ago

Ian Crocker did earn a spot on the relay. He was top 2 at trials and swam to silver. MP and Ian just switched spots

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  anonymous
3 years ago

You have never watched Olympics, have you?

anonymous
Reply to  Texas Tap Water
3 years ago

troll

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  anonymous
3 years ago

Troll

SwimSam
Reply to  Virtus
3 years ago

In all likelihood
Prelims: Armstrong- Wilson – ??? – Apple (or Blake or Brooks, depends on who’s hot)
Finals: Murphy- Andrew – Dressel – Apple
Wilson earned the spot, and prelims is a formality for the US, so he should get to swim it. Unless we have a similar occurrence to 18 and 19 where Michael Andrew wasn’t quite on point I don’t see him swimming another leg. Wilson is also a reliable relay leg, and given the progress he’s made I wouldn’t be shocked if he was a 58.0 split

anonymous
Reply to  SwimSam
3 years ago

and Michael was 58.1 flat start twice.

Ghost
Reply to  SwimSam
3 years ago

Or put MA on fly leg in prelims?

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

Read More »