CJ Nickolas has overcome so many obstacles to reach the Olympics. He’s aiming for taekwondo gold

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN The Associated Press

FILE - CJ Nickolas of the United States sings the national anthem after receiving a gold in men's taekwondo kyorugi -80kg at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Oct. 22, 2023. At 22, Nickolas is the highest-ranked U.S. athlete in taekwondo, No. 2 in the world in the men’s 80-kilogram (176-pound) class. A silver medalist at last year’s world championships, he will be leading the four-member U.S. taekwondo team in Paris. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Esteban Felix]

PARIS (AP) — It seems there’s almost nothing that could derail CJ Nickolas’ quest for an Olympic medal. A malformed vertebra couldn’t stop him. Neither could heart surgery. Or a change of weight divisions that everyone thought was a big mistake. Breaking his arm in the buildup to the Games was just a minor distraction, too. The 22-year-old Nickolas is the highest-ranked U.S. athlete in taekwondo at No. 2 in the men’s 80-kilogram class. The world championship silver medalist will be leading the four-member U.S. taekwondo team in Paris and is hoping to be the first American man in the sport to stand on the Olympic podium in 12 years.