 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
A 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]
