What does it take to get from Chase Hall to the Olympic Games? In this episode of 50 Years of HerStory, we welcome Janine Bowman ’95 and Nikki Barnes ’17, two Coast Guard Academy graduates who represented Team USA on the Olympic stage. Janine grew up in Rhode Island, followed her older brother’s lead in applying to a service academy, and arrived at CGA planning to play trumpet in the band. More than two decades later, Nikki came to the Academy from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she’d been sailing since she was six. She swore she’d never wear a uniform, but one week at AIM changed her mind. Janine joined the pistol team mostly for the road trips, even though she was afraid of guns. Just five months later, she was a national champion, thanks in part to some unconventional training with a heavy chemistry textbook at the back of the classroom. She continued training through active-duty assignments, even practicing aboard a rocking cutter, before competing at the Sydney Olympic Games. Nikki shares how she nearly lost her place at the Academy after struggling academically, received just two days to decide on an assignment that would allow her to pursue her Olympic dreams, and navigated the challenges of training overseas while serving on active duty. With support from her Coast Guard commands, the Alumni Association, and countless others, she and her team climbed from the bottom of the world rankings to seventh, earning their place at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Together, Janine and Nikki reflect on the hard work behind their accomplishments, learning to control what they can, and the coaches, commands, families, and supporters who helped them along the way. In one of the episode’s most meaningful moments, Nikki shares how hearing Janine’s story as a young athlete helped her believe her own Olympic dreams were possible. Now, she hopes her journey will do the same for the next generation. A Moment of Gratitude Closing out the episode, CDR Laura Holveck ’01 (ret.) shares a special Moment of Gratitude, recognizing someone who made a lasting impact on her journey. It’s a reminder that behind so many of our stories are the people who believed in us along the way. Moment of Gratitude is a recurring segment featured at the end of each episode this season. Have someone you’d like to thank? We’d love to feature your shout-out, too. Submit yours here. As we celebrate 50 years of women at the Coast Guard Academy, we invite you to stay connected, honor this legacy, and support future generations. Support This Podcast Stay connected by becoming a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association at www.cgaalumni.org/1887.Keywords Women in Leadership, Coast Guard Academy, USCGA Alumni, 50 Years of Women at USCGA, Olympians, Team USA, Olympic Sailing, Olympic Pistol Shooting, Sydney 2000, Tokyo Olympics, Military Athletes, Perseverance, Resilience, Mentorship, Women in the Military, Long Blue Line, Academy Culture
