Julie Nykiel
Julie Dawn Nykiel is a former Australian women's basketball player.
Biography
Basketball
Nykiel played for the national team between 1979 and 1990, competing at two Olympic Games; [Basketball at the Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics|1984] and [Basketball at the Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Summer Olympics|1988]. Nykiel also represented Australia at three World Championships - 1979, 1983 and 1986.In the domestic competition, Nykiel was the Women's National Basketball League Most Valuable Player in 1984 and 1988. Her single-game record of 53 points stood for over 20 years and was achieved without the benefit of a three-point line. Nykiel led the WNBL in points scored on 5 occasions; 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1988. In 2006, Nykiel polled as the 7th greatest Australian female basketball player in the 25-year team. Nykiel is also recognised as one of the leading players in WNBL history.
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.Honours and recognition
In the 1997 Australia Day Honours Nykiel was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. In 2000 she was awarded the Australian Sports Medal and in 2001 the Centenary Medal.Nykiel was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.