By Trish Svoboda

On the eve of the 2024 Paris Olympic opening ceremony, Representative Sharice Davids released a video of her conversation with Derrick Mein, Kansas’ sole athlete in the 2024 Games. Mein, from Paola, KS, will compete in trap shooting. This is his second Olympic appearance, following his gold medal win at the 2022 Shotgun World Championship in Osijek, Croatia.

Rep. Davids said that Mein’s “dedication and achievements are a testament to the hard work and talent that come from our great state.”

In their conversation, Davids and Mein, a Kansas State University alumnus with a degree in Animal Science and Industry, discussed his early beginnings in sporting clays, where he joined a local league with his father, and his progression into an Olympic-level athlete. Mein also shared insights from his experiences at previous competitions and the support he continues to receive from Kansas.

Mein began shooting with his father at the age of eight and developed his skills across various disciplines, including sporting clays, skeet, trap, international trap, and helice. His accolades include national titles and Team USA honors. When not training, he enjoys hobbies such as hunting, fishing, and spending quality time with his family.

If successful, Mein will compete in the Olympic Trap Men’s Final on July 30 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. CT. The event will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.