Nicole Elise Beck OAM (born 28 May 1988) is a female Australian rugby union player who plays as a wing for Australia, Sydney and Sydney University. She won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
 Beck takes an impact from Non Evans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Nicole Elise Beck OAM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 28 May 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Bulli, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 66 kg (10 st 6 lb; 146 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Bulli High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Wollongong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life
editA former Australian touch football representative, Beck was selected by Wallaroos coach Steve Hamson after just two games of 15-a-side rugby and made her international debut in the test match lost 36–3 to the Black Ferns on 14 October 2008 at Viking Park in Canberra.[1] Only a few months before, Beck had been chosen to play with Australia Women's Sevens for the 2009 World Cup qualifiers scheduled on 25–26 July 2008 at Apia Park in Samoa.[2] She scored a decisive try on full-time in the 22–15 win against New Zealand, claiming the Oceania Sevens champions title.[3]
The following year, Australia won the Rugby World Cup Sevens defeating 15-10 New Zealand in a final started with a try by Beck in the second minute and ended in extra-time with a golden point strike by Shelly Matcham.[4]
Beck played an important role in Australia's third place at the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup, scoring 1 try, 11 conversions and 1 penalty, becoming one of the nominees for the 2010 IRB Women's Personality of the Year[5] and pulling off a great try-saving tackle on Fiona Pocock during the semi-final against England.[6] She was a member of Australia's team at the 2016 Olympics, defeating New Zealand in the final to win the inaugural Olympic gold medal in the sport.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
Beck currently studies a Bachelor of Educational Studies at Charles Sturt University.[14]
At the 2017 Australia Day Honours she received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.[15]
References
edit- ^ Jon Geddes (14 October 2008). "From touch footy to test match rugby". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
- ^ "Australian Women's Sevens squad named for World Cup qualifiers". 7 July 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
- ^ "Australian Women win Oceania Sevens". 28 July 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
- ^ "Australia creates Sevens history in winning Women's World Cup title". 8 March 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
- ^ "Women's POY nominees". 4 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
- ^ "Incredible try saving tackle by Australia's Nicole Beck at the WRWC". 2 September 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
- ^ "Australia wins gold in women's rugby sevens". Sky News. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ Newman, Beth (14 July 2016). "Rio Olympics: Australian Sevens teams announced". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Rio Olympics: Australia's men's and women's sevens squads unveiled". foxsports.com.au. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Rio 2016: Olympic squads named by Australia for rugby sevens debut at Games". ABC.net.au. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Australia's Olympic Sevens squads announced". Rugby News.net.au. 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Australia name a mix of veterans, young guns for men's, women's Olympic sevens squads". ESPN.com.au. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Key players return as Australia name Olympic sevens squads". worldrugby.org. 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ "CSU Olympic Athletes – Nicole Beck". 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ "Nicole Elise Beck OAM". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 28 January 2017.