The ups and even the downs of studying a brand new ability in volleyball is certainly one of Nicky Nieves’s favourite issues concerning the sport. Nieves, certainly one of Workforce USA’s flag bearers for the 2024 Paralympic Video games, is a center blocker on the ladies’s sitting volleyball crew. She says the wrestle makes the success all of the sweeter.
“At first, it is actually irritating when one thing new is launched otherwise you’re making an attempt to execute a brand new ability,” Nieves says. “However then when it does come collectively and it is efficient and it really works and also you get factors—regardless if it is a block, a kill, or no matter it’s—I really like the way it simply all comes collectively in play.”
Consultants In This Article
- Nicky Nieves, Paralympic gold medalist, flag bearer, and sitting volleyball participant
Perspective on how far she’s come permits Nieves to relish that feeling on the courtroom—however that’s additionally true for Nieves’s Paralympics journey as an entire. Whereas Nieves was on the gold medal-winning crew for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Video games, she skipped the Tokyo Video games in 2021 because of COVID.
That prompted her to reassess the function of sport in her life within the context of her psychological well being. Did she need to retire? Was touring the world to compete actually what was finest for her? Nieves has based a nonprofit, known as Limitless Individuals, devoted to volleyball inclusivity and teaches volleyball to folks with limb variations through the summers. Her advocacy is a part of what made Workforce USA choose her as flag bearer for the 2024 Video games. However she had to verify taking part in in Paris nonetheless labored for her.
“I’ve all the time felt blessed to have the ability to journey and compete with my crew, however this one simply feels particular in a way that something could be taken away from you and something can occur. All the celebrities aligned, and it’s simply additional proof that I used to be delayed, however not denied.” —Nicky Nieves
In the end, Nieves determined to proceed competing, and she or he’s so glad she did. The truth is, her not collaborating within the Tokyo Video games, after which taking the years in between to make a proactive selection about Paris, is a part of what’s making these Paralympic Video games so gratifying.
“I’ve all the time felt blessed to have the ability to journey and compete with my crew, however this one simply feels particular in a way that something could be taken away from you and something can occur,” Nieves says. “All the celebrities aligned, and it’s simply additional proof that I used to be delayed, however not denied.”
Now, Nieves is ensuring she’s feeling and looking on level as she and her crew will get after these factors on the courtroom. This is how.
1. She ensures her make-up will keep put
Nieves calls herself a “make-up lady in my sport,” so understanding that her make-up will “keep on by the sweat,” as she places it, is a crucial a part of Nieves’ preparation.
A few of her favorites are One/Dimension On ‘Til Daybreak setting spray, Make-up Revolution Sport Repair setting spray (which particularly makes a product for sports activities), or Mehron’s barrier spray—certainly one of Nieves’s present favorites as a result of it’s made for theater actors who’ve comparable sweat-fighting wants.
2. She chooses a vanilla-scented fragrance
“I’m a vanilla lady after I’m taking part in,” says Nieves, so naturally she has some go-to scents for her fragrant aura. For fragrance, she loves Billie Eilish Eau de Parfum or The 7 Virtues’ Vanilla Woods. For a physique oil, she opts for Nemat’s Vanilla Musk or Al Rehab’s Choco Musk.
3. She will get her head within the sport
Nieves turns inward for a while alone earlier than video games with the intention to construct deal with the courtroom. For that, her telephone and her Airpods assist set the temper.
“I’ve to have some sort of music simply to get me within the zone,” Nieves says. Whereas listening to music, she additionally will get targeted together with her Bible app, or tunes out the world with a puzzle sport. She’s presently having fun with the cell puzzle sport known as 2048. “That sort of retains me engaged whereas we’re heading over,” Nieves says. “I do not actually should suppose within the puzzle, however I am simply targeted on it.”
Seeking to get within the zone your self? Try Effectively+Good’s playlist of the final word pump-up songs, in accordance with Olympians.
