Team USA’s Carl Alan Nickolas Jr., known as CJ Nickolas, is poised for a defining moment in Paris. At just 23, this taekwondo prodigy is the nation’s sole representative in the fiercely competitive 80 kg division. Yet, his journey to the Olympics is far from ordinary, and the expectations on his young shoulders are immense.

Nickolas made headlines at the 2023 World Championships, becoming the first American man since 2009 to stand on the podium. While he narrowly missed out on gold, his silver medal win in Baku marked a significant milestone in his career and for American taekwondo. Adding to his accolades, Nickolas is the first male American since Rio 2016 to qualify for Olympic taekwondo, a testament to his exceptional skill and determination.

The pressure is undeniable, but Nickolas is ready to embrace it. Driven by the desire to make his mother proud, he stands at the threshold of greatness. His mother has been his rock and inspiration, fueling his ambition to excel. The Paris Olympics could well be his stage to showcase not only his talent but also his spirit.

Denise Nickolas: A mother who spirited a champion

CJ Nickolas’ 63-year-old mother has trained in the martial arts for two decades. The California resident earned a black belt in taekwondo and became the role model for the 23-year-old Olympian. The martial artist explained just how inspiring it felt to watch his mother master the sport alongside him. “She was taking classes, and she was better than me,” Nickolas told Teen Vogue.

Denise Nickolas’s dedication was the fuel that kept him hooked on the sport. Although he started when was just three, the welterweight didn’t lose interest in the sort. In fact, the first-time Olympian thrived alongside his mother. A fast learner, CJ showcased his innate excellence in the sport from a young age. Yet, Denise Nickolas was never far behind.

While, she didn’t particularly like martial arts before she started learning it alongside her son, she eventually fell in love with it. “She was fighting 18-year-old girls and she’s 63. She got home with bruises and stuff. I was like, ‘Shorty, you gotta chill.'” the first-time Olympian said in the interview that was published on July 18th, 2024, his 23rd birthday.

While his father was a taekwondo instructor, his mother put some thought behind choosing the sport for her son. “My mom was smart. She looked up combat sports for a kid and found martial arts that are in the Olympics, where you could build a career,” Nickolas told Teen Vogue. Despite, her son’s plea to stop, Nickolas is very much involved in his training, and that’s why CJ Nickolas hopes to do something his mother never got the chance to do.

CJ Nickolas hopes to fulfill his mother’s dream

While Team USA’s biggest taekwondo star in Paris has a lot riding on his shoulders, Nickolas is determined to rise to the occasion. Known for his long reach, and signature double-reverse back-kick and double-reverse spin-hook kick, the 3x Pan American champion hopes to win gold on the grandest stage. The welterweight believes earning Olympic gold will be the ultimate punctuation mark to a journey they started two decades ago.

The champion welterweight has also left no stone unturned in his quest to earn Olympic gold. Despite already earning his rank as the top 5 welterweights in the world, CJ Nickolas has been training like it’s his full-time job. “I have a 9 to 5,” said the taekwondo competitor when asked about his training regimen. The 4x Grand Prix bronze medalist has also trained his mind to develop the “winner’s mindset.”

CJ Nickolas will take on Farzad Mansouri of the Refugee Olympic Team on August 9th in the Round of 16. So, only time will tell if the Team USA star’s efforts to make his mother’s dream, a reality that bears the sweetest fruit.