Destined to Skate

It seems I was destined to have wheels rolling under my feet. My father, Bill, started skating at the age of 17. He never had a coach but succeeded through sheer determination to prove people wrong. Then he became a coach to give to people what he never had.

My mother, Cheryl, started skating at 12 and let's just say she wasn't the most naturally talented kid to strap on a pair of skates (sorry, mum). She succeeded through determination, dedication and a coach (my father) who believed in her. My mother went on to win 3 World Titles and retire as number one overall in the world. Meanwhile, my father become a world renowned speed skating coach. So skating is in my genes.

I was born in June 1987 and started skating when I was two and a half. From a young age, I showed the confidence and tenacity to excel at sport ... or so my dad says. I dreamed of following in the footsteps of my mother and becoming a World Champion.

My first big success, apart from National Titles, came in 2000 at the Oceania Championships when I won the Junior Girls half marathon. I was 12, the minimum age allowed, and I was competing against girls as old as 17. I was the smallest of the pack and nick-named "sparrow". I won the 21km event on 4x76mm wheels. As a junior at the World Championships, I was always there in 4th, 5th and 6th place. But for a few years I couldn't quite make it to the podium. Then in 2004 I finished third in four races and was named "Queen of the Bronze".

I took a risk in 2004 and moved to Europe for six months to pursue the World Inline Cup and a career as an inline speed skater. My school teachers were opposed to this. I did well in school and they wanted me to sit tight and prepare for university. But I wanted to follow my childhood dream and I knew that the only way to make that happen was to head to Europe and start racing on a weekly basis. Every year since, I have split my year between Europe and my home in Timaru, New Zealand — and I love it!

In 2006 I won my first World Title in Korea, skating in my first senior World Champs. I won a complete set — gold, silver and bronze — that year.

Last year in Colombia, I won another World Title along with two bronzes. To put my results into perspective over the last two years of the 60 individual (non-relay) medals up for grabs at the World Championships in Senior Women: Colombia have won 29, Korea 11, New Zealand (me alone) 6, Argentina 4, Italy and USA 3.

This year I will once again be heading to Europe to skate in the World Inline Cup, this time in the uniform of the new Bont Wheels team. And then will compete at the World Championships in Spain, where I'll be trying to surpass my mum's total of three world titles.

Bill, Nicole, Wayne and Cheryl
Hastings, NZ World Champs 1989