Nicole Nieves

Started: She began playing non-Para volleyball in 2002. She took up sitting volleyball while she was at university. (theledger.com, 26 Dec 2015; teamusa.org, 21 Jul 2015) Reason: She was approached by USA Volleyball to play on the national sitting volleyball team. She was initially reluctant, but her father persuaded her to give it a try. "I told them, 'Yeah, I'll do that', and then I was like, 'I'm not doing that. I did normal [volleyball] my entire life. Why would I go and sit and do volleyball?' It was almost like learning how to play all over again. I thought I was really good at standing [volleyball] and it was like I'm not good anymore. That was the most frustrating thing. It definitely humbled me." (theledger.com, 26 Dec 2015) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (worldparavolley.org, 11 Nov 2022) Awards: She and wheelchair basketball player Steve Serio were named flag bearers for the United States of America at the opening ceremony at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. today.com, 23 Aug 2024) In 2010 she received the John Smillie Award from the East Coast Conference in the United States of America. The honour is given to those who have overcome personal or physical challenges to play in the East Coast Conference. (teamusa.org, 12 Nov 2019) Additional Info: ANAEMIA In 2017 she was diagnosed with anaemia. In 2020 she underwent an iron transfusion, which boosts the amount of iron in the bloodstream. She was due to undergo two further procedures but they were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "At my best I feel that I can conquer the world. At my worst, I feel like I'm so tired and low in energy I could cry. Weirdly enough people don't look at athletes and think deficiency, or lack thereof, but not everything that glitters is gold. I changed the way I fuel my body and I'm taking full responsibility for what I can control. At the end of the day I'm just trying to get my body to where it needs to be, and that includes my iron. I want to be healthy from the inside out, and when I'm taking care of my body, the rest will come. Being your best you doesn't only include looking nice and being fit, it also includes taking care of your health and your body. You only get one." (lifeasnicky.com, 16 Oct 2020) ANXIETY She has been affected by anxiety during her career, and finds that routine helps her manage the condition. "I have a certain way that I manoeuvre through my day. I know that, for some, it's okay to stray away and be completely spontaneous, but for me it's a no. I know for a fact that I need plenty of alone time in my day, or to go do tasks on my own, or just to be in my room and get things done. Solitude is a big need in my life, and when I'm taken from my space, it gets me anxious. Of course, there's situations where it gets difficult to get some alone time, but just finding a few moments like in a lobby, taking a walk, working out, helps a lot." (lifeasnicky.com, 11 Feb 2020) FURTHER EDUCATION In 2021 she graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Florida International University in Miami, FL, United States of America. In 2022 she began studying for a master's degree in clinical mental health at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH, United States of America. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Feb 2022) OTHER ACTIVITIES She has served as the Pan America representative on the athletes' commission of World ParaVolley. (worldparavolley.org, 17 Mar 2019) FOUNDER She is the founder of Limitless People, a non-profit organisation based in the United States of America that provides opportunities to play volleyball to groups that may not have had the chance to try the sport. (Instagram profile, 27 Dec 2023; lesspeopleinc.org, 06 Jul 2019)