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Former UGA swimmer, Olympic medalist gets surprise phone call from Kirby Smart

Swimming - Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 2 NANTERRE, FRANCE - JULY 28: Nic Fink of Team United States gestures as he walks out ahead of the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 28, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

PARIS — Nic Fink is having one of the best weeks of his life.

The U.S men’s swimmer and former University of Georgia star tied for the silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke on Sunday. He finished just two-hundredths of a second behind Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy, who took home the gold medalist.

Congratulations have been pouring in for Fink since Sunday. During an interview, fellow UGA alum and broadcaster Maria Taylor surprised Fink with a special phone call with UGA head coach Kirby Smart.

“Wow this is very cool. Thanks so much.” Fink said.

“Go Dawgs! Silver medalist. We’re pumped ... I was a breaststroker back in high school, I was pumped,” Smart told the Olympic medalist.

“I’m happy to continue on that legacy then,” he replied.

Fink wasn’t sure if he would get a shot at a medal. He didn’t make the Olympic team during his first two trial attempts and he finished fifth in the 200-meter breaststroke at the delayed 2021 Tokyo Summer Games.

He also balanced his job as a full-time engineer while training. Fink earned his bachelor’s degree from UGA and his master’s from Georgia Tech.

The medal likely won’t be the proudest moment for Fink this year. Melanie Margalis Fink, who is also a former Olympic swimmer and UGA alum, is pregnant with the couple’s first child.

She couldn’t make the trip to Paris with her due date in two months, but Fink knows she was just as excited as him on Sunday.

“I think she probably got her heart rate up as much as I did,” Fink told the Associated Press. “I’m hoping she’s able to relax a little bit and stay hydrated and lay down because she was probably jumping up and down.”

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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