Athlete Spotlight: Nick Itkin - Listen To The Olympics On iHeartRadio
If you are wondering how to listen to the Olympics, iHeartRadio has you covered. iHeartRadio is the exclusive audio home of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it is the only place to listen to the Olympics stream. The free iHeart app is where to go to listen to exclusive play-by-play action of Team USA . To celebrate, we are spotlighting some of the country's athletes that are vying for gold.
Nick Itkin, a 24-year-old Los Angeles native, is making waves in the world of fencing. Born into a family of athletes, Itkin's parents emigrated from Ukraine where his father, , was an elite fencer and his mother, , was a member of Ukraine's rhythmic gymnastics team. His sister was a member of the U.S. rhythmic gymnastics national team.
Itkin's journey in fencing began at the age of seven. He spent his childhood in his father's gym, watching fencers while doing his homework. This early exposure to the sport, coupled with his family's competitive nature, laid the foundation for his future success.
Itkin's dedication to the sport led him to the University of Notre Dame, where he balanced his academic pursuits in finance with his fencing career. Despite the challenges, Itkin excelled, winning NCAA and junior world titles.
His breakthrough came when he qualified for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, where he won a bronze medal in the men's team event. Since then, he has won a pair of individual medals at the world championships and recently ascended to number one in the world rankings. Earlier this year, he claimed his first FIE Grand Prix win at a tournament in Washington, D.C.
Itkin's success has secured his place in the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, where he aims to bring home a gold medal. Beyond Paris, Itkin has his sights set on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, his hometown.
In addition to his competitive career, Itkin is passionate about growing the sport of fencing in the U.S. He has run clinics for young fencers and hopes to make the sport more accessible to all communities.
