The city of Whitefish's 2021 proclamation declaring July 23 as Nicole Heavirland Day recognizes not only the Olympian’s athletic prowess, but also her pride for representing her hometown. 

This year on July 23 the three-time Team USA rugby player will be busy translating her work ethic and fitness into not one, but two new sports while training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.  

Heavirland is aiming for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games in shooting. 

"I am going for the fourth Olympics," she said. "But that's the outcome of the goal. I'm trying to just enjoy the journey."  

Heavirland has been in a transition period since the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Six months before the Summer Games, she broke her left fibula during a rugby match against Australia. 

"We rehabbed it so fast. I was walking by day 11. While I rehabbed in the months leading to Paris, my right Achilles took a beating," she said.  

Heavirland was able to keep playing. During the Pacific Four Series, competing against Canada, Australia and New Zealand, she felt a strong tug on her Achilles tendon after a long travel day and heavy session on the field.

Two days later she broke her hand too, "just thinking about the Achilles," she said.  

Heavirland would continue to push through the injury to make it to Paris.  

"You do anything for the Olympics," she said. 

Heavirland got an MRI after the games while still in the Olympic village, and it showed a torn achilles. Only after the games did she reckon with surgery.  

"It was a tough decision. I just knew it was time," she said.  

Heavirland had surgery in December 2025 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, taking advantage of a rehab program for Olympians.  

Heavirland found silver linings and gratitude for the opportunity to be at the training center while rehabbing.  

"I'm among Paralympic athletes. So I'm like, 'It's not that bad, Nicole, you're gonna have your leg again,'" she said. "And then you're around all these great athletes who are supportive and know exactly what you're going through, because injury is a part of sport. And I had the best physical therapist, Kelsey, she got me through it.” 

The rehab lasted until March. While in a boot, Heavirland met a pistol shooter who invited her to come shot.  

Growing up in Whitefish, Heavirland went through hunter education and shot a peasant or two, but this was a whole new ball game.  

Soon after trying it out, shooting coach Anthony Lutz said to Heavirland, "You're kind of good at this, want to take it seriously?"  

When Heavirland finished her rehab in March and it was time to leave the training center, Lutz put in a word.  

According to Heavirland, he told the Olympic committee, "I want to invest in this athlete because she knows how to work hard." 

Heavirland was sold on the recruiting for the new sport as she parted ways with Team USA rugby with a fire still in her heart. 

"For the longest time I've been on that [rugby] team, telling me what to do, where and when to be... Now, I have to make decisions," she said. 

Instead of training for rugby in California, Heavirland has been busy shooting for hours each morning in Colorado Springs.  

While shooting over and over, she "Just tries to hit a 10.9 [a bullseye] every time," she said. "It's 90% mental. You want your heart rate low, your mind clear, your body stable and strong."  

As a newbie, Heavirland said she appreciates the bad shot, and embraces the fact that sometimes to be good at something, it can be a bit boring.  

"If I have a bad shot, it's, 'How can I learn from that?'," she said. 

For 2028, her focus will be the 10-meter air pistol and the 25-meter with a .22-caliber sport pistol. 

Heavirland has been boosting her shooting fitness by trying out another new activity -- velodrome, an indoor cycling Olympic event.  

"It's very European. Around a track, as fast as you can. It's all about muscle endurance," she said. "If anything, it's a good community." 

She rounds out her training with lifting and conditioning in the afternoons, followed by recovery efforts including sauna, stretching and nutrition. 

While Heavirland misses Team USA, her rugby journey isn't over.  

"It's a struggle because I identify with rugby. 2010 is when I started playing here in the Flathead Valley for the Black and Blue," she said. "I miss being aggressive. I miss being tackled and tackling."  

Heavirland leaves a legacy of being a part of Team USA during a momentum-building time for women's rugby. 

Team USA earned its first Olympic medal in rugby in 2024, and Illona Maher, Heavirland's best friend, has become an international icon of women's strength. 

With the momentum supported by new spectators, Heavirland now has a new opportunity to join a professional rugby league in England.  

In September she'll take an intermission from shooting for the paid, month-long gig based in Bristol, England, where she'll play on a new rugby team with players from all over the world. The league will have games in Wales, France and Spain. 

It will be challenging because Heavirland has never played with these women – at least not on the same team.  

Heavirland said in rugby, teammates are your right and left.  

"You need to trust them, you need to communicate, and you need to be humble,” she said. “Rugby is a respectful sport. 

"It'll be hard, but that's part of the fun." 

Those looking to cheer Heavirland on from Whitefish – whether on the rugby field in England or on the shooting field in Los Angeles – might just have to stop by the Bulldog Saloon or Buffalo Cafe, where her rugby jerseys hang. 

Editor Kelsey Evans can be reached at 406-862-3505 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at whitefishpilot.com/support. 

    Nicole Heavirland practicing shooting. (Photo provided)
  

    Nicole Heavirland indoor track cycling. (Photo provided)
  

    Nicole Heavirland with family in Whitefish this month. (Photo provided)