Meet Team USA | Natalie Nicholson
Natalie Nicholson
| Delivers: | Right-handed |
| Born: | March 10, 1976 (Bemidji, Minnesota) |
| Hometown: | Bemidji, Minnesota |
| Occupation: | NP |
| Education: | MS in Nursing from the University of North Dakota - Grand Forks |
| Family: | Married with one daughter |
| Started Curling: | 1993 |
| Career Highlights |
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| World Championships: | Ninth Place (2009); Seventh Place (2008); Fourth Place (2007); Silver Medallist (2006); Fourth Place (2004); Seventh Place (2002); Sixth Place (2000) |
| US Nationals: | Gold Medallist (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000); Silver Medallist (2003); Bronze Medallist (2000) |
| US Olympic Trials: | Gold Medallist (2009); Bronze Medallist (2005); Sixth Place (2001, 1997) |
| Continental Cup: | Team North American (2007 Gold, 2006 Silver, 2004 Gold, 2002 Gold) |
| World Junior Championships: | Semi-Finalist (1997); Fifth Place (1995) |
| US Junior Nationals: | Gold Medallist (1997, 1995); Fourth Place (1994) |
| US Curling Association: | Team of the Year (2006) Team of the Year (2004) Team of the Year (1997) |
| Favorite Food: | Wild rice salad sandwiches from the Wild Hare |
| Least Favorite Food: | Olives |
| Favorite Place to Visit: | Alaska |
| Role Models: | My family members |
| What's on Your iPod?: | I truly have a mix of everything from the 70’s to rap/hip hop, pop, alternative and R&B |
| Pets: | Roxie (female miniature schnauzer) & Cash (male yellow lab) |
| Person(s) You would Love to Meet: | The Real Slim Shady |
| Favorite Thing about Curling: | Competing at a high level with my friends and the other curlers - who are great people |
| Favorite Pastime: | Visiting with family/friends over coffee, or in the evening sitting around a bonfire and relaxing. Reading US Weekly on the web, watching anything on Bravo network. Biking with my family, rollerblading, shopping |
| Strangest thing to ever happen to you: | This isn’t strange necessarily but a crazy wonderful surprise. In 2002 GM was a sponsor of the Olympics called “Team Behind the Team”. They were granting 4 different types of vehicles to athletes that applied. Of course there were requirements to even be considered (i.e., world, national, Olympic championships finishes). I had to also write an essay explaining how I would benefit from receiving a car from GM. So I told my story and also took a picture of my “beater of a car” and attached an estimate as to how much it would cost to fix my car. AND how much my car was worth. A couple months later I got a letter in the mail telling me “Congratulations! You are a recipient of a 2002 Chevy Malibu”. It was my first brand new car and I got to go to the dealership and pick any Malibu I wanted. Fast forward another 2 months and I get another letter in the mail stating I have been nominated to carry the Olympic torch in Big Sky Montana. GM also paid for my torch to keep! Very cool! This gift came at a time when I was a college student, and so bloody poor. It was a huge relief to have a mode of transportation that was safe … and fully loaded! |
| Inspirational Person/Moment: | I really find my family and extended family to be positive, supportive and inspirational. There are daily moments that I am grateful for that makes me a better, happier person because of the people in my life. |
| Current Book I'm Reading: | 'Three Cups of Tea' by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I just finished 'Against Medical Advice' by James Patterson and Hal Friedman. One of my favorite 'laugh out loud' books, 'My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands' by Chelsea Handler. |
| Favorite Work-out Moves: | 'Kettlebell swings', 'up-downs' with kettlebells and good ol'plank-in all positions'. And nothing makes my butt sore like 'sprint, jog, walk intervals' and 'pushups'td> |
| What you don't know about my Teammates: | They are all big fat softies when it comes to movies and books. RADIO, RADIO! (Team joke ... thank-you Kate B.) |