Cyclist Nick Wammes was among a sea of more than 11,000 athletes from all corners of the globe gathered Friday morning at Japan’s National stadium in Tokyo for the opening ceremonies for the 2020 Summer Olympics. The Games were cancelled last year over COVID-19 concerns and rescheduled for this year. 

The 21 year-old from just across the Dawn-Euphemia line in Bothwell is ready and excited to compete but does not want to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the event. 

“It’s iconic and the biggest event of my career,” he said before winging his way to the Pacific Rim. “But at the end of the day, it’s just another race. It’s a massive stage and we all know that, but the easier (mentally) we can make it for ourselves, the better and the better we’ll perform.” 

Wammes will compete in the men’s keirin and sprint competitions in Tokyo. He cracked the top 10 in sprint events at both the Pan American Games and Pan American Championships in 2019.