Morris County Medalists: 2 Local Swimmers Take Olympic Podium In Paris

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Two Morris County natives took the podium on the world's biggest stage this weekend, as they claimed their first Olympic medals in two different swimming events.

Jack Alexy of Mendham was first off the block for the gold-medal-winning relay team in the 4x100 freestyle, which also includes Chris Guliano, Hunter Armstrong, and decorated swimmer Caeleb Dressel.

This was the first gold medal for Team USA in Paris, and came on Alexy's Olympic debut.

Meanwhile, Nic Fink of Morris Township tied for silver in the 100-meter breaststroke— matching the time of Great Britain's Adam Peaty, a world-record holder who was trying to win a third consecutive gold medal.

Fink, a 2011 Pingry School grad, came in fifth place at the Tokyo Olympics after failing to qualify for the Games in previous attempts. The first-time medalist is also preparing to celebrate becoming a first-time father, as wife Melanie Margalis Fink (a gold medalist herself in swimming) is pregnant.

And at 31, he is the oldest Team USA swimmer in more than a century to have won a medal for the fist time.

"Age is just a number in some sense,” Fink told reporters this weekend. “But in another sense, it means more at this time, especially because there were definitely windows to close my career earlier and I kind of kept going for the love of the sport. To have this much success this late has been icing on the cake and a lot of fun.”

As mentioned before, this is the first Olympic Games for Alexy, who is a 2021 graduate of the Delbarton School.

“(I'm) truly honored to be part of this relay and watching Caeleb finish that off for us and making Team USA proud,” said Alexy. “And starting off night one with a gold.”

There are two other alumni from both Delbarton and The Pingry School at these Games, and several more Morris County natives to keep an eye on in Paris. Here's the rundown on their events:

• Keturah Orji, track and field (Mount Olive HS): Qualification begins Friday, Aug. 2 for her event, the triple jump.
• Morgan Pearson, triathlon (raised in New Vernon, went to Delbarton School): The men's triathlon is scheduled for Tuesday, Jul. 30 but practice has been cancelled for two days due to water quality.
• Jackie Dubrovich, fencing (raised in Riverdale, went to Pompton Lakes HS): Team match is on Thursday, Aug. 1; Dubrovich lost her individual match on Sunday.
• Amanda Golini, field hockey (Randolph HS): Team USA tied 1-1 with Spain on Monday, and will play Great Britain on Thursday, Aug. 1.
• John Tolkin, soccer (Chatham HS): The men's team beat New Zealand 4-1 over the weekend, and will face Guinea on Tuesday, July 30.
• Matt Fallon, swimming (raised in Warren, went to Pingry School): Qualifying heats for his event, the 200-meter breaststroke, begin on Tuesday, July 30.