It was the manifestation of a dream that was conceived when he pleaded with his mother to enrol him in karate classes after he watched the Power Rangers and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on television as a kid, NBC News reports. 

"My mom was smart. She looked up combat sports for a kid and found martial arts that are in the Olympics, where you could build a career. And she found this random taekwondo school and put me in it," said Nickolas.

The competitive part of the sport has not been the most exciting element for Nickolas, whose strengths are his quickness and his unique abilities to strike opponents from different, awkward angles - and his crafty defence. 

"Travel has been the most rewarding part of the journey. It’s fun that I have gotten to see so much of the world at this young age." He has competed all over Europe, South America and Asia. "It’s a blessing to be able and take in culture from around the world," added the athlete.

But this summer, he looks forward to coming home with a gold medal from Paris. "I fully intend to do just that," he concluded.