Nicky Nieves

American sitting volleyball player (born 1989)
Nicky Nieves
Personal information
Born (1989-10-06) October 6, 1989 (age 34)
The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Sport
SportSitting volleyball
Medal record
Women's sitting volleyball
Representing the  United States
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Team
World Championship
Silver medal – second place 2014 Elblag Team
Silver medal – second place 2018 Arnhem Team
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Sarajevo Team
Parapan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lima Team

Nicole Nieves (born October 6, 1989) is an American sitting volleyball player. She is a member of the United States women's national sitting volleyball team, with whom she won two gold medals at Parapan American Games, gold at the Summer Paralympics, and three medals at the World Para Volleyball Championships.

Early life and education

Nicole Nieves was in New York City borough of the Bronx, on October 6, 1989, having no left hand since birth.[1] She attended the Queens College, City University of New York where studied speech pathology.[1]

Career

Nieves competed at the World Para Volleyball Championship for the first time in June 2014, at which she and Kaleo Kanahele Maclay each scored 7 points in a match against China. The Team USA scored 23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-21, 17-15 as overall victory. Her team would also win silver in the tournament, which was her first.[2] She was also called up to the 2018 World Championship and won her second silver medal in 2018.[3] She again competed at the World Championship in 2022, where she won a bronze medal.[4][5]

Nieves also represented the United States at the Parapan American Games, first in the 2015 edition and won a gold medal.[6] She again represented the United States at the 2019 Parapan American Games and won a gold medal.[7]

Nieves represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in sitting volleyball and won a gold medal.[8][9] On July 10, 2024, after an eight year absence, she was named to Team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[10] Along with wheelchair basketball player Steve Serio, she served as one of two flag bearers for Team USA at the 2024 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Nicky Nieves". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Bill Kauffman (June 21, 2014). "U.S. Women Take Silver at Sitting Worlds". Team USA. Archived from the original on July 5, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  3. ^ "Netherlands 2018: New women's winner guaranteed". paralympic.org. July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  4. ^ McDougall, Chris (November 12, 2022). "U.S. Women Defeat Slovenia To Take Bronze At Sitting Volleyball World Championships". teamusa.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Nicky Nieves - Sitting Volleyball | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  6. ^ Kauffman, Bill (August 14, 2015). "U.S. Women's Sitting Team Golden at Parapan". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  7. ^ "Lima 2019: USA and Brazil crowned sitting volleyball champions". paralympic.org. August 29, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Ring, Daniel (September 22, 2016). "Shifflett achieves long-awaited goal with Paralympics selection". southernminn.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  9. ^ Costantini, Lisa (September 4, 2021). "U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Defend Their Gold Medal, Taking China 3-1". teamusa.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Fawcett, Laura (July 10, 2024). "USA Volleyball Announces 2024 U.S. Paralympic Women's Sitting Volleyball Team". usavolleyball.org. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Team USA's Paralympic Games flag bearers have been revealed". TODAY.com. 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2024-08-29.