UMO’s Dom Nutter to Represent Team USA at the World University Games in Germany
July 15, 2025
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
MOUNT OLIVE— From a 16-inch TV in small-town Ohio to the global athletic stage in Germany, Dominic “Dom” Nutter’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. The University of Mount Olive (UMO) graduate student and elite hammer thrower has been selected to represent the United States at the 2025 World University Games. The Track & Field events will be held in Bochum, Germany, with Nutter’s hammer throw competition scheduled for July 22-23.
For Nutter, donning the red, white, and blue is more than just a uniform—it’s a lifelong dream realized. “When I was a kid, we’d watch the Olympics on this old TV with broken buttons that we turned on with a pencil,” Nutter recalled. “It’s the highest honor I’ve ever received. Competing for my country is the culmination of years of inspiration, training, and heart.”
Before coming to UMO for his master of business administration degree, Nutter earned his undergraduate degrees at Walsh University, where he was a standout thrower. He transferred to UMO this year to pursue graduate studies and take his athletic career to the next level under the guidance of Coach Justin Potter. Nutter’s selection to Team USA came via a committee vote, with Coach Potter breaking the news via late-night text. “I just sat in bed freaking out for about an hour,” he said.
Over the past year, Nutter unknowingly began preparing for this opportunity, and once selected, his training became even more focused. His routine includes morning throws with varying weights, followed by strength training three times a week, mirroring the timing and intensity he’ll face during competition. “It’s all about rhythm and execution now,” he explained. “Thanks to Coach Potter’s programming, everything is falling into place.”
Although hammer throw is his specialty, Nutter has competed in multiple throwing events. Discus throwing was his first love. However, the hammer quickly took over when he arrived at UMO. This season, he’s had a standout performance finishing seventh at the NCAA Division II Championships, earning First-Team All-America honors, and being named Conference Carolinas Male Athlete of the Year. “I’m always grateful, never satisfied,” he said of the accolades. “I know I’ve got more in me, and I’m ready to use that at the Games.”
This will also mark Nutter’s first time traveling outside of the U.S.—a milestone made even more special by the presence of his parents, Sue and Luke Nutter, and Coach Potter, who will be by his side in Germany. “They’ve been there for every national meet, driven hours, and now they’re flying across the world. That support means everything.”
The competition may be fierce with athletes from over 150 countries, but Nutter says the camaraderie among throwers sets the tone. “At the end of the day, we’re just a bunch of people throwing a ball into a field and having fun doing it,” he said. “We push each other, we cheer each other on.”
Fans back home can watch the action via livestream at fisu.tv, though coverage of hammer throw events may be limited.
Post-competition, Nutter hopes to explore Germany a bit and cheer on his fellow Team USA athletes. Beyond the Games, he plans to continue competing post-collegiately, with an eye toward future Olympic Trials. Coaching, sports information, or even owning a gym are on his long-term radar, but for now, his eyes are fixed on the ring in Bochum. “I may not be the biggest or strongest, but if I can be technically sound and consistent, I’ve got a shot,” he said. “When the time comes to hang up the shoes, I want to know I gave it everything.”
At 24 years old, 6’2”, and 255 pounds, Nutter is a powerhouse with the grace of a technician. He credits his success to a network of supporters: his coaches, the UMO training staff, his teammates, and especially three people, his cousin Mary Brigid Keck, his best friend Gabe Miller, and his mom Sue, all former collegiate All-Americans who inspired him to pick up the hammer. “I have been able to stand on the shoulders of giants,” he said. “From God to coaches, old and new teammates, friends, family, and medical staff keeping me together, I truly have had an extraordinary group of people who have my back and have given me what I consider the greatest opportunity of my life and I give back to them the effort and care they have given me.”
Looking back, he has one message for his younger self and athletes just starting out in his hometown of Johnstown, Ohio, “Persevere. The storm will pass if you keep pressing on. And when it does, take a moment to appreciate it, but then keep moving forward.”
Event Details:
- Prelims: July 22 | Flight 1: 10:15–11:13 AM (ET), Flight 2: 11:50–12:44 PM (ET)
- Finals: July 23
- Livestream: https://www.fisu.tv/ (Under “Athletics”)
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
