HAMBLIN Nikki < Back  
Sport Athletics
CGA New Zealand   
Gender Women
Born 20 May 1988 in Dorchester, ENG
Height1.65 m
Weight 52 kg
Human Interest
Further Personal Information
Residence Cambridge, NZL
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team Cambridge Athletic and Harrier Club: New Zealand
General Interest
Injuries She missed the 2012 Olympic Games in London after tearing her Achilles tendon. She underwent surgery in late 2012 and did not return to competitive action until early 2014. (3news.co.nz, 16 May 2014; stuff.co.nz, 26 Feb 2014; nzherald.co.nz, 17 Jun 2012)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach Steve Willis [personal], NZL
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete, Shop Assistant
General Interest
Other information FAIR PLAY
She and US distance runner Abbey D'Agostino each received a Fair Play Award from the International Fair Play Committee [CIFP] at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Hamblin tripped during her 5000m heat, accidentally bringing down D'Agostino. The US athlete had suffered a knee injury in the fall but helped the New Zealander to her feet. Hamblin held back from continuing the race as she encouraged D'Agostino, until the injured runner urged her to carry on without her. "I think it's very special for both Abbey and myself. I don't think either of us woke up and thought that was going to be our day, or our race, or our Olympic Games. Both of us are strong competitors and we wanted to go out there and do our best on the track. I was on the ground for too long to get back up and catch on to the pack, so then it becomes about finishing the race, and finishing the race well. I am so grateful to Abbey for picking me up, and I think many people would have returned the favour. Once you are on the track, there is a mutual understanding of what it takes to get there." (iaaf.org, 21 Aug 2016)

OCCUPATION
She worked part-time in a book shop in Cambridge, New Zealand, between training and competition. (nzherald.co.nz, 17 Aug 2016)

FROM ENGLAND TO NEW ZEALAND
She was born in Dorchester, England, and moved to New Zealand in 2006. She obtained citizenship in 2009. (stuff.co.nz, 14 Jul 2009)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? "I became involved in athletics through cross-country at school. I used to swim quite a bit so I think that gave me a good aerobic base to run from. I also used to do quite well in the inter-school cross-country without any training. With a friend of mine, I went to the local athletics club and enjoyed taking part in a number of the events, so I joined up."
Further Personal Information
Higher education Journalism - Waikato Institute of Technology: New Zealand
General Interest
Ambitions To compete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (newshub.co.nz, 26 Sep 2016)
Further Personal Information
Languages English
General Interest
Awards and honours She received a Fair Play Award from the International Fair Play Committee [CIFP] at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (iaaf.org, 21 Aug 2016)