New-Zealander Skater Nicole Begg Hangs Up Her Skates

Nicole Begg of New Zealand (Timaru Club), has decided to hang up her skates and retire from competition, after a 17-year career of international speed skating.

Early Success

The 30-year-old double world champion won her first world title at 14, while she was still a junior. At 19, in 2006, she got her first senior title at the 10km elimination race, silver at the marathon, and bronze at the 1000m.
The following year, in Colombia, Nicole Begg won the 1000m title. She doesn’t remembers all her medals.

“I must have got 10 or 11. You remember the gold medals, but the others don’t count as much.”

A the peak of her career, Nicole Begg spent 10 seasons in Europe to take part in the World Inline Cup.

“When you’ve got it under your skin, you’re always ready to jump on every competition you can.”

Long-distance lovers may remember her victory during the mythical 111km One Eleven race: “It was an exhausting race, with the last slope going uphill for 20 km.”
Nicole often skated solo on marathons, against other organized international teams. Yet, she was also part of the Bont team, together with Cecilia Baena (COL) and Alexandra Vivas (COL).

A Media Sensation

Nicole often made the headlines in the papers of New Zealand. Her biggest coup was probably the time she posed naked with only her skates on. She wanted to make herself known and bring her sport into the spotlight.

Serious Injuries

Throughout her career, she’s known ups and downs. Even if she wasn’t a frequent faller, she had severe injuries, breaking her jaw twice! By the end of her career, she contracted a virus that kept her away from the tracks for almost a year.

The Future

She now works in collaboration with the FIRS, as a representative of the World University Games that will soon take place in Taipei. “I know people in the FIRS, I talked to them during the last World Championships. I would like to get involved, and discover new things.”

Just like her parents, Bill and Cheryl, who are both internationally known skating lovers. She always take the opportunity to share her knowledge with the youger generations too, at the skating rink of Caroline Bay. The circle is complete!