The ups and even the downs of studying a brand new ability in volleyball is one in every of Nicky Nieves’s favourite issues concerning the sport. Nieves, one in every of Crew USA’s flag bearers for the 2024 Paralympic Video games, is a center blocker on the girls’s sitting volleyball group. She says the wrestle makes the success all of the sweeter.
“At first, it’s really frustrating when something new is introduced or you’re trying to execute a new skill,” Nieves says. “But then when it does come together and it’s effective and it works and you get points—regardless if it’s a block, a kill, or whatever it is—I love how it just all comes together 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 group 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 wish to retire? Was touring the world to compete actually what was greatest for her? Nieves has based a nonprofit, known as Limitless Folks, devoted to volleyball inclusivity and teaches volleyball to folks with limb variations in the course of the summers. Her advocacy is a part of what made Crew USA choose her as flag bearer for the 2024 Video games. However she had to ensure enjoying in Paris nonetheless labored for her.
“I’ve always felt blessed to be able to travel and compete with my team, but this one just feels special in a sense that anything can be taken away from you and anything can happen. All the stars aligned, and it’s just further proof that I was delayed, but not denied.” —Nicky Nieves
In the end, Nieves determined to proceed competing, and she or he’s so glad she did. In reality, her not taking part within the Tokyo Video games, after which taking the years in between to make a proactive alternative about Paris, is a part of what’s making these Paralympic Video games so gratifying.
“I’ve always felt blessed to be able to travel and compete with my team, but this one just feels special in a sense that anything can be taken away from you and anything can happen,” Nieves says. “All the stars aligned, and it’s just further proof that I was delayed, but not denied.”
Now, Nieves is ensuring she’s feeling and looking on level as she and her group will get after these factors on the courtroom. This is how.
1. She ensures her make-up will keep put
Nieves calls herself a “makeup girl in my game,” so understanding that her make-up will “stay on through the sweat,” as she places it, is a vital 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—one in every 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 girl when I’m playing,” 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 to be able to construct concentrate on the courtroom. For that, her cellphone and her Airpods assist set the temper.
“I have to have some kind of music just to get me in the zone,” Nieves says. Whereas listening to music, she additionally will get centered together with her Bible app, or tunes out the world with a puzzle sport. She’s at the moment having fun with the cell puzzle sport known as 2048. “That kind of keeps me engaged while we’re heading over,” Nieves says. “I don’t really have to think in the puzzle, but I’m just focused on it.”
Seeking to get within the zone your self? Try Properly+Good’s playlist of the final pump-up songs, in keeping with Olympians.
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