Nicky Nieves

{{short description|American sitting volleyball player (born 1989)}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Nicky Nieves

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|10|06|mf=y}}

| birth_place = The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S

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| height = 5 ft 10 in

| sport = Sitting volleyball

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| medaltemplates-title = Medal record

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{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}}

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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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/athletes/Nicky-Nieves|title=Nicky Nieves|website=teamusa.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606034024/https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/athletes/Nicky-Nieves|archive-date=June 6, 2023}} She attended the Queens College, City University of New York where studied speech pathology.

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.{{cite news |url=http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball/Features/2014/June/21/US-Women-Take-Silver-at-Sittting-Worlds |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705171236/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball/Features/2014/June/21/US-Women-Take-Silver-at-Sittting-Worlds |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |author=Bill Kauffman |title=U.S. Women Take Silver at Sitting Worlds |publisher=Team USA |date=June 21, 2014 |accessdate=January 25, 2015}} She was also called up to the 2018 World Championship and won her second silver medal in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/netherlands-2018-new-women-s-winner-guaranteed |title=Netherlands 2018: New women’s winner guaranteed |website=paralympic.org |date=July 21, 2018 |access-date=July 19, 2024}} She again competed at the World Championship in 2022, where she won a bronze medal.{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.com/news/2022/november/12/us-women-defeat-slovenia-to-take-bronze-at-sitting-volleyball-world-championships |title=U.S. Women Defeat Slovenia To Take Bronze At Sitting Volleyball World Championships |website=teamusa.com |first=Chris |last=McDougall |date=November 12, 2022 |access-date=July 19, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/nicky-nieves|title=Nicky Nieves - Sitting Volleyball {{!}} Paralympic Athlete Profile|website=International Paralympic Committee|language=en|access-date=2020-06-23}}

Nieves also represented the United States at the Parapan American Games, first in the 2015 edition and won a gold medal.{{cite web|url=http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball/Features/2015/August/14/US-Womens-Sitting-Team-Golden-at-Parapan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004092205/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball/Features/2015/August/14/US-Womens-Sitting-Team-Golden-at-Parapan |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |title=U.S. Women's Sitting Team Golden at Parapan |website=teamusa.org |first=Bill |last=Kauffman |date=August 14, 2015 |access-date=July 19, 2024}} She again represented the United States at the 2019 Parapan American Games and won a gold medal.{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/lima-2019-usa-and-brazil-crowned-sitting-volleyball-champions |title=Lima 2019: USA and Brazil crowned sitting volleyball champions |website=paralympic.org |date=August 29, 2019 |access-date=July 19, 2024}}

Nieves represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in sitting volleyball and won a gold medal.{{cite web |url=https://www.southernminn.com/waseca_county_news/sports/shifflett-achieves-long-awaited-goal-with-paralympics-selection/article_aacfb9b0-768a-51d5-975f-3f0f03a523df.html |title=Shifflett achieves long-awaited goal with Paralympics selection |website=southernminn.com |first=Daniel |last=Ring |date=September 22, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.com/news/2021/september/05/us-womens-sitting-volleyball-defend-their-gold-medal-taking-china |title=U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Defend Their Gold Medal, Taking China 3-1 |website=teamusa.com |first=Lisa |last=Costantini |date=September 4, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2024}} On July 10, 2024, after an eight year absence, she was named to Team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.{{cite web |url=https://usavolleyball.org/story/usa-volleyball-announces-2024-u-s-paralympic-womens-sitting-volleyball-team/ |title=USA Volleyball Announces 2024 U.S. Paralympic Women's Sitting Volleyball Team |website=usavolleyball.org |first=Laura |last=Fawcett |date=July 10, 2024 |access-date=July 19, 2024}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-23 |title=Team USA’s Paralympic Games flag bearers have been revealed |url=https://www.today.com/news/paris-olympics/paris-paralympic-games-flag-bearers-team-usa-rcna167882 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}}