Two-time Bronze Medalist Nick Itkin Ready for Paris, Fueled by Family and Fencing Mentor
Nick Itkin, 24, is already a seasoned Olympian.
After winning two consecutive bronze medals in the Paris Olympics after Tokyo, the Los Angeles native said he felt more confident going into his second Olympic competition, thanks in large part to Misha Itkin, his coach and father, and three-time Olympian Miles Chamley-Watson.
“I’m just going to be ready for that pressure because I know it’s going to come,” the younger Itkin said before leaving for Paris. “As an athlete, I’m a lot more experienced than I was back then.”
Humility was also something the Palisades High School and Notre Dame University alum practiced while preparing for major international sporting contests.
“I prefer being a little bit of an underdog because I feel like everyone’s coming at you, you know?” Itkin, who also won two consecutive NCAA Championships at Notre Dame, said he doesn’t want to dwell on his achievements too much. “I’m just focused on my training and making sure I’m in the best shape possible.”
Itkin’s bond with Chamley-Watson, who will be trained by Itkin’s father after moving to Los Angeles in 2021, may also have helped him prepare for Paris.
According to Coach Itkin, the 34-year-old British American is one of the world’s biggest fencing stars and has served as a role model for him.
“He brings so much positive energy whenever you train,” she remarked. “It makes us more excited working with him.”
Nick Itkin, who acknowledges he’s still finding out his style and regimen, says he learned a lot from Chamley-Watson while training for the Paris Olympics.
“It’s been fun to just battle with him out here because it’s good for both of us to have someone at a high level to battle with,” the younger Itkin explained, describing the two Olympians as brothers.
Itkin, who won his second bronze medal, said he had been waiting four years for this opportunity.
“The dream is gold, but I’m thrilled to walk away with some kind of jewelry or hardware,” the two-time Olympic medalist said. “All the hard work I had put in — It was worth it.”