But he will also have an entire southern community barracking him to what he hopes will be a historic moment.
The Alexandra paddler last year earned a New Zealand spot in the K1 canoe slalom race but had to wait until yesterday’s official announcement before he could completely start to prepare for his Olympic debut.
"I’m pretty happy, and just really proud to represent my country," Butcher told the Otago Daily Times.
"It’s also special for me to represent my community and the people of Central Otago. I get a bit emotional about that, actually.
"When I talk about people who have helped me, and have been with me this whole time ... yeah, it makes me proud to do it for them.
"I’m obviously just very, very excited as well.
"I’m pretty keen to get over to France and rip into it."
Butcher will have his greatest supporters beside the whitewater at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
His parents, Dale Butcher and Wendy Robertson, Central Otago whitewater royalty Gordon and Mary Rayner and several friends will head to France to watch the Dunstan High School old boy in action.
"Mum and Dad are pretty chuffed. They might have been more stressed than I was. The Rayners are over the moon and I think they might have been practising their French."
Butcher, a Youth Olympian in 2013, will also compete in kayak cross in Paris.
The discipline is new to the Olympics — though Butcher won silver at the world championships in 2021 — and is, for want of a better description, whitewater chaos.
It involves four paddlers leaving a chute at the same time and battling each other intensely to the finish line.
"It’s almost a full-contact sport," Butcher said.
"You’re not supposed to smack anyone in the face but it happens anyway."
No New Zealand male has won an Olympic medal in canoe slalom.
Luuka Jones won silver in the women’s competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
There will be at least one other Otago athlete in the water in Paris.
World 400m freestyle champion Erika Fairweather is certain to be selected for her second Olympics.
