Nicola's Story
Nicole Zagame made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games, coming home with bronze after Australia defeated Hungary 13-11 in a close penalty shootout final. The centre back/driver made her second Olympic Games appearance at Rio 2016.
The Aussies kicked started their Rio campaign with a strong, dominant 14-4 win. Their second pool match proved to be more of a challenge with the green and gold side narrowly going down to Italy 7-8 despite the scores being tied until the final seconds.
The Aussies then powered home to take a decisive 10-3 win over hosts Brazil in the final pool game, setting up a quarter final clash against Hungary. In a physical, tense and ultimately heartbreaking encounter the Australians lost in a penalty shootout after scores were level, 8-8, after four quarters, ending their 2016 Olympic campaign.
Zagame was selected in her first Australian junior water polo squad in 2006. She made her senior international debut in the 2009 FINA World League. The following year she won silver at the 2012 FINA World League Finals in China and was selected in the Olympic All-Starts team after her London performance.
In 2013 she helped Australia win silver at the World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. Zagame underwent shoulder surgery at the end of 2013, which saw her sidelined for majority of the 2014 season.
She was back in the pool in 2015, helping her team win the National Water Polo League All-Stars game, where she scored five goals in the match. She also won bronze at the 2015 Kunshan Cup in China and silver at the 2015 FINA World League Super Finals in China,
Out of the pool, Zagame has a degree in Medical Radiation Science and works as a Diagnostic Radiography. She is a talented drawer and artist and can solve a rubik’s cube in two minutes
