Teresa Nicol

Teresa Nicol is on a mission. Now that she is a Global Messenger, she intends to get out among various community groups and spread the word about the organisation she feels deeply passionate about. She also plans to encourage other athletes to become more self-motivated and independent when it comes to their own sports training, and is ultimately aiming to become a swimming coach herself. On top of all of this, Teresa is already working towards getting more sponsors on board to help provide athletes and clubs with much-needed financial backing.

“We are who we are. We are all unique and talented. People should get involved and help enrich other people’s lives. Their sport may be the only thing they have got to look forward to all week. My job is to get them out there,” says Teresa.

A talented swimmer, Teresa joined Special Olympics North Harbour in 2000. Over the past 11 years she has participated at three National Summer Games, the Australian National Games in 2006 and in 2011 she went to the World Summer Games in Athens, Greece. For Teresa going to Athens was a major highlight of her time with Special Olympics so far as she met lots of great people and experienced a wonderful pride that she had “made it” to the top of her sport.