Why Nicole stripped for action

Nicole Begg likes to win. Late last year in the unkind climate of Columbia she bravely sprinted to a world title in the 1000m, beating two local favourites.

Coming out of the final curve and into the back straight Begg looked beaten for all money.

But she clung to the inside of the track, powered home with a lunged across the line and got home by one hundredth of a second.

Begg's efforts were recognised by many media outlets throughout the country and the prestigious Halberg "Sportswoman of the Year' nomination followed, as part of New Zealand's sporting showcase.

However, a year earlier, when she won her first world championship title in Korea, it hardly raised a ripple in the New Zealand media outside Timaru.

The recent interest in Nicole was not due to the fact that the country had suddenly become overwhelmed by the sport of speed-skating in the 12 months between wins but that Begg had undressed.

The 20-year-old had posed in a number of 'sexy' shots, including being draped in the New Zealand flag for an overseas speeding skating magazine.

The Herald ran the story and others followed, the website she was on was inundated and collapsed due to the traffic and calls came from media all over the world.

In fact her photos were number one in terms of hits on several websites for a number of weeks.

One of her competitors from Argentina called Begg's pictures "tasteless" and then quickly did a set of her own.

Then Begg's pictures were run in a the annual "sports news" section of American Playboy magazine and suddenly people were talking about the petite skater again.

Begg makes no apologies for her actions and is fact rather pleased with the result.

"Twelve months ago no-one knew my name and this year I'm a nominee in the Halbergs."

However, Begg remains less than impressed that it took her disrobing rather than her sporting exploits to grab the attention.

"I actually had better results in the year I missed out (on Halberg nomination). In 2006 there were no world champions except myself and I missed out. This year (2007) I'm up against four world champions."

In 2006 Begg grabbed a gold, silver and bronze at the world championships as well as finishing second in the prestigious World Inline Cup marathon series.

In 2007 Begg won gold and two bronzes and finished fourth in the World Inline Cup.

She is very honoured to be recognised among the country's sporting elite.

"It's great for me and skating -- a real honour and I'm looking forward to Wednesday night."

Most armchair selectors have already made their pick to win and shot putter Valerie Vili is a short favourite among the women.

It seems traditional athletics sport still hold sway in New Zealand, especially if they are also Olympic ones.

There is no doubt Vili's effort was superb and she is still considered young in the sport of shot put.

The efforts of those others nominated are probably no less dramatic but are in a categories many would consider "minor" sports within New Zealand.

Vili has been joined by Begg, world BMX cruiser class champion Sarah Walker and world motocross champion Katherine Prumm.

Begg argues the awards should not only be judged on their popularity within New Zealand but have a wider focus and weight given to their worldwide appeal and numbers competing.

"I guess it's hard for people sometimes to know how popular a sport maybe outside New Zealand."

On Wednesday night in Christchurch Begg will be glammed up among the sporting elite to find out who has won.

She agrees it will be a tough job to separate four world champions.

It's not easy to compare sports and individuals within them. However speedskating has a huge following in Europe, parts of Asia and South America and Begg earns a living in the professional World Inline Cup series of marathons, thanks also to a grant from SPARC and several individual sponsors who provide gear rather than cash.

In Germany, for example, around 100,000 people turn up for an opportunity to skate through the Brandenberg Gate when the World Inline Cup comes to town.

While she is a star and pin-up girl for the World Inline Cup nothing comes easy for Begg and it is not glamorous, rather it's hard work.

A tough training regime keeps Begg fit, while she also travels thousands of kilometres each year in a car around Europe getting to her events and also flies to Korea and the United States to compete.

Begg shows her colours by admitting she prefers the tough races where no-one can hide in a bunch.

Her best time for a marathon is one hour 10 minutes but as she points out the races are more often about tactics rather than straight-line speed.

Begg's technique is second to none and she also has an very impressive power-to-weight ratio on her 58kg frame.

That has allowed her to race not only in long distance races but also the sprints, one of only a handful of competitors worldwide to successfully make the transition.

Her first gold medal world championship was in the 10,000m points elimination race while her bread and butter is the marathon.

The World Inline Cup is raced over 15 events during the summer in the northern hemisphere while Begg spends the off-season in Timaru, where she is often seen at cycling events, where she loves to beat the men.

She has also spent most Sundays at Caroline Bay coaching wihat she hopes may be the next crop of New Zealand speedskating champions andshe has made guest appearances at Caledonian games showing she is still in touch with her roots.

The petite athlete, who stands only 1.57m, said the comment she most often receives is "oh, you're not very big".

Publicity it seems has also lifted her profile and she has no regrets about THOSE photos.

"It's nothing more than you would see on a beach and I'm comfortable about that."

The only person she had to pacify was her grandmother, who was caught by surprise, but all was forgiven with her second gold.

Today, instead of being asked whether she is in fact "that speedskater" she is more often congratulated for her efforts.

"That's kind of nice really."

Also the fact that the local Kia Motors franchise dealer has arranged a car for her to drive emblazoned with her picture makes her a familiar sight on the city streets. Kia New Zealand is also looked to secure her a car in Europe.

Local Kia franchisee Bob Driver said what separates Begg from many other athletes is her willingness to give back to the community.

"She's a genuinely nice kid."

A Thai restaurant chain is also supporting her, which shows she is starting to get some traction in the tough world of sports sponsorship for individuals.

Being a world champion skater it seems was always her destiny after her father attached skates to a pair of soccer boots for Nicole at age two and half.

"Dad couldn't buy quad skates that small so he improvised."

Her dad is Bill Begg, a renowned international coach who has taken charge of national teams in Columbia, South Africa, Australia and Germany, while mum Cheryl is also a world speed-skating champion.

Begg was born in Perth but travelled the world with her parents before they returned to Timaru, which she considers home.

"I'm a Kiwi through and through and love coming back to Timaru."

However, Begg harbours an Olympic dream and is happy that in 2009 speedskating will again be considered by the IOC for inclusion.

Should it be declined Begg may make then switch to either ice-skating or seriously consider cycling as an option.

"I'll only be 22 then, so there's plenty of time. Also the World Championships will be in Switzerland in 2009 on the track where I train and that's the closest I will come to having them at home."

 

- © Fairfax NZ News