Nikita Mawhirt has been a successful recipient of a Tier 2 Scholarship within the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program.
Nikita had both a passion and talent for swimming and equestrian from a young age, competing up to state level Swimming and national level Showjumping. As Nikita grew older and more competitive in her two sports, she struggled to make the decision to which one she wanted to pursue to achieve her dream of representing Australia at the Olympic Games.
It was while watching the 2012 Olympics that she first came across Modern Pentathlon. After watching the athletes compete across the 5 disciplines, she realised she would not have to let go of her two passions, riding and swimming, if she started this sport, but instead needed to learn three new disciplines.
Nikita started fencing a few years later in 2014. In 2015, she had her first opportunity to represent Australia at the Asia/Oceania Championships in Beijing.
In 2017, Nikita qualified for her first World Championships team, in Youth and Junior age groups and also achieved her goal of qualifying to represent Australia at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, in Argentina. Competing at the Youth Olympics was a dream come true and something Nikita will never forget.
In 2020, Nikita became the Australian National Champion and first WA athlete to win the title.
Nikita has set a goal to represent Australia at the 2024 and/or the 2028 Olympic Games and make the finals at the Junior World Championships in 2021.
Outside of her own sporting career, she would also like to promote Modern Pentathlon throughout WA and the country to increase recognition of the sport.
Nikita speaks of her selection within the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program:
“I cannot put into words how grateful I am to receive a SAHOF Scholarship. It was both a surprise and a shock to receive the call as I know how many talented athletes all around Australia apply for the program. With Modern Pentathlon being such a small sport in Australia, let alone WA, having the support of SAHOF is a real honour and privilege and I can’t thank them enough for this opportunity. I’m really looking forward to training hard over summer and what will hopefully be a positive year ahead.”
Facts
Birthplace: Perth, WA
Nationality: Australian
Sport: Modern Pentathlon
Disciplines: Swimming, Fencing, Showjumping, Running, Shooting
First & Current Club: UWA Fencing Club, Swan Valley Horse and Pony Club, Front Runner Sports, Scarborough Beach Swimming Club
Started: 2014
Studying: Bachelor of Sport Science, Exercise and Health
Hero: Edwina Tops-Alexander
Pre-comp Routine: “Swim in the race pool the day before competition, getting used to turning on the walls and the starting block. When lacing up runners or fencing shoes, the right shoe always goes on before the left. When I was younger, someone told me if you put the left shoe on first you’ll get bad luck and I guess it’s something that’s always stuck with me!”
Favourite Quote: “You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence therefore, is not an act, but a habit” – Aristotle
Aspirations After Sport: “Sport has always been my passion so it seems only fitting I continue into a career in sport. I would love to work with elite performance athletes or teams, as I have always been interested in the high-performance environment. I would like to continue promoting Modern Pentathlon in Australia. It has always been an aspiration and passion to create a program or organisation that supports and provides assistance to disadvantage athletes, providing them with opportunities they may not have otherwise had. What form this will take, I’m not sure, but I would love to give back and help young athletes reach their dreams, just as I have been able to with the support of those around me.”
Rankings – as at Sep 2020
Senior National: 3
Junior National: 1
Junior International: 60
Awards, Honours & Achievements
- 2020: Australian Modern Pentathlon National Championships – Gold
- 2019: Australian Modern Pentathlon National Championships – Silver
- 2019: Australian Junior Fencing Championships – Gold, Epee teams
- 2018: Youth Olympic Games, Buenos Aires – 22nd and top 3 in Fencing
- 2018: Asia Oceania Championships – 12th, U19
- 2018: International Modern Pentathlon Trophy – 23rd, U19
Last updated 24/09/2020
