US Kokpar Player’s Road to Fifth World Nomad Games
American Kokpar Player Nick Willert Gains Popularity on Social Media Ahead of World Nomad Games
A video of U.S. kokpar player Nick Willert preparing for the kokpar competition at the fifth World Nomad Games (WNG) in September has taken social media by storm. The video, which was posted on his Instagram account on Aug. 14, shows Willert using a kettlebell during training and a homemade wooden installation in place of his horse.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to once again have the chance to compete with the best in the world during the World Nomad Games. Getting to travel to Kazakhstan is a dream come true for me! I have been fascinated with this region for a long time, and I am truly grateful to be able to travel to Kazakhstan. I know many view the American kokpar and horseback wrestling teams as underdogs, but my hope is that we are able to showcase our growth from when we first started playing,” said Willert.
Willert, who is also a professional skier, MMA fighter, and surfer, will be participating in both the kokpar and audaraspak competitions at the fifth WNG as a part of the U.S. national team. He previously took part in the third World Nomad Games in 2018 in the Kyrgyz Republic.
The cooking couple competitions will be held at the Kazanat Hippodrome in Astana from Sept. 9 to 12. Fans can follow Willert and the U.S. national team’s journey at the upcoming World Nomad Games through his social media accounts.
