The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

So few people have the honor of representing the United States on the world stage. Even fewer have the opportunity to do so on the grandest stage of them all, the Olympics. Butte, Montana native Staff Sergent Nickolaus Mowrer will do just that at the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled for July 23 through August 8.

Mowrer isn't just representing Butte, Montana or the United States. The seven time National Record holder has strong ties to the community of Harlem. Yolanda Johnson, Kay Schmitt and Gary Russell are his cousins and he is the nephew of Bonnie Russell and the family couldn't be more excited to watch him perform in the Olympics.

"We are all just so proud and excited for him, to be able to watch him and support him at the Olympics is truly remarkable," stated Yolanda. "To have a family member representing the United States at the Olympics, we want to share that moment with the community."

Mowrer, 32 years old, is married with a daughter and like many Montanans, considers himself to be an outdoor enthusiast with hunting and fishing among his primary hobbies.

This will be his second trip to the Olympics, but this go around he will be competing in both the 10m Air Pistol and the 50m Rifle events at the Tokyo Olympics. No other American in history has ever qualified for both events. Competition will take place at the Asaka Shooting Range. The 10m Air Pistol will be televised at 12:30 a.m. MDT on Saturday, July 25. The 50m Rifle will be shown at 12:30 a.m. MDT on Sunday, July 26. To watch live go to https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule/sport/shooting.

After graduating from Butte High School Mowrer competed competitively at Montana Tech. In 2012 he joined the United States Army World Class Athletic Program (WCAP). Mowrer has stated that his time serving in the U.S. Army as well as the WCAP has helped him to perform at a world class level, "It's different, performing for your team, fellow soldiers, it's a family atmosphere at the highest level. To compete at that level sacrifices are part of it and weekends are nonexistent," said Mowrer. "My routine is train hard and I've taken it upon myself to not limit my training and we travel quit a bit to competitions around the world."

Before he earned his spot on the Tokyo Olympic roster, Mowrer has had plenty of success on the range. During his collegiate shooting days he was a three time Free Piston NRA Intercollegiate Champion and finished just 5 points shy of a Bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Games.

The WCAP program requires a lot from its athletes, in addition to training for the Olympics six days a week, soldiers are still required to perform all their regular Army duties. WCAP Commander Captain Robert Cheseret oversees the unit and ensures mission success, "What is similar is the mission. Whether you're on an operation for the Army or if you are an athlete, there is always a mission. The mission for us is to represent the country in national, international and Olympic games."

Other soldiers that have successfully found their way to the Tokyo Olympics by way of WCAP include, Sergent Amro Elgeziry (Modern Pentathlon), Sergent 1st Class Elizabeth Marks (Paralympic Swimming), Staff Sergent Naomi Graham (Boxing) and Specialist Alejandro Sancho (Wrestling).

Through the years the United States Army has sent 446 soldiers to the Olympics, winning 111 medals in the process since 1948.

Mowrer first qualified for the Tokyo Olympics back in February of 2020 before the Covid-19 Pandemic delayed the games for a year. In May he again qualified during the U.S. Olympics Trials held at Fort Benning, Georgia.

This will be Mowrer's second trip to the Olympics having previously competing in London during the 2012 games. His London experience was memorable for sure, but he returned home without a medal. Here he is to hoping for a podium finish a week from Sunday.