Kansas athletes compete in Olympics

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Kansans in Paris right now are celebrating the Olympic games now that their competition is over.

Ariana Dirkzwager is a swimmer from Wichita, and Derek Mein is a trap shooter from Paola. Both are done competing in the Olympics.

“It’s the Olympics, it’s a big deal,” Dirkzwager said. “It only happens every four years but to actually see it in motion and to see the opening ceremony and to see the athlete village…”

Dirkzwager never imagined she’d get to see the games up close as an athlete.

It’s Dirkzwager’s first time at the games, representing her mother’s home country of Laos in the 200-meter freestyle.

She broke her personal record and the national record for Laos by a full second.

“I was literally elated with joy,” Dirkzwager said.

Paola trap shooter Derek Mein has been to the Olympics before in Tokyo, but family and friends couldn’t be there.

Mein’s performance in Paris is a big improvement compared to Tokyo.

“After my third round when I finally broke all 25 of that round, I turned around and looked up in the stands, and my wife and daughter are doing a happy dance,” Dirkzwager said. “My parents and brother are cheering and shaking their fists and clapping, and it’s just a truly incredible feeling that you really can’t explain.”

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