Waikato based Para cyclist Nicole Murray has been in the Paralympics New Zealand Para Cycling Programme since 2015, competing at a variety of national and international competitions. She made her international debut in Rio de Janeiro at the 2018 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships. Nicole exceeded all expectations including her own, winning a silver medal and smashing many personal best times.
Nicole sees no shortage of activity even outside of her sport and enjoys caving and surfing in her spare time. The skills she developed through previously working as a cave guide have also added to her value within the team.
Riding with a C5 classification, her left hand amputated below the wrist, she rides with some modifications and adaptations on her bikes. Having medaled in her first international event and having continued international success since then, she has left no doubt about her abilities on the world stage.
Nicole was selected to the New Zealand Paralympic Team for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. She competed in track and road race events, including only narrowly missing a bronze medal in the Women’s C5 3000m Individual Pursuit. She also set a Personal Best time of 37.657 in the Women’s C4-5 500m Time Trial. On the road, Nicole placed 6th in both the Women’s C5 Time Trial and Women’s C4-5 Road Race.
In 2022, Nicole was selected to the New Zealand teams for both Road and Track World Championships. After winning gold – her first road racing medal ever – at the Elzach 2022 Para Cycling World Cup in May 2022, Nicole went into the 2022 Para Cycling Road World Championships with increased confidence. It paid off, as she took home a silver and a bronze medal from the event. Later in 2022, Nicole stunned spectators with two gold medals and a bronze at the Para Cycling Track World Championships, making her a double world champion. The New Zealand team at the event in Paris brought home the most medals ever in a Para Cycling World Championships – seven in total.
By 2023, Nicole was well-known as the top-ranked C5 cyclist in the world. In the ‘Super Worlds’ – the first mega Cycling World Championships with track and road Para cycling back to back – Nicole won gold, silver and bronze medals, all on the track.
Nicole’s incredible achievements were recognised with her being named Best Female Summer Athlete in the global PARA SPORT Awards in September 2023. She was one of six athletes nominated in 2024 for the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award in the Laureus Awards.
