Australian basketball player
Julie Dawn Nykiel OAM (born 13 December 1958) is a former Australian women's basketball player.[1]
Biography
Basketball
Nykiel played for the national team between 1979 and 1990, competing at two Olympic Games; 1984 and 1988.[2] Nykiel also represented Australia at three World Championships - 1979, 1983 and 1986.[3]
In the domestic competition, Nykiel was the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) Most Valuable Player in 1984 and 1988.[1][4] Her single-game record of 53 points (set in 1982) stood for over 20 years and was achieved without the benefit of a three-point line.[1][5] Nykiel led the WNBL in points scored on 5 occasions; 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1988.[6] In 2006, Nykiel polled as the 7th greatest Australian female basketball player in the 25-year team.[7] Nykiel is also recognised as one of the leading players in WNBL history.[8]
Netball
Nykiel also played netball for Contax. Together with Kathryn Harby, she was a member of the Contax teams that won the 1990 and 1991 South Australia state league titles.[9][10]
Honours and recognition
In the 1997 Australia Day Honours Nykiel was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).[11] In 2000 she was awarded the Australian Sports Medal[12] and in 2001 the Centenary Medal.[13]
Nykiel was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.[1]
See also
References