Post-retirement Nicol has time to accomplish things outside squash

Since starting to play at age seven and making her international debut at 12 to win the British Junior Under-14 Open title in 1996, Nicol is the most decorated star in the racquet sport and an inspiration to millions worldwide.

The 37-year-old Penangite has no regrets in the sport, having achieved everything possible including eight World Championship titles, 81 Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour titles, an unprecedented record 109-month (nine years) reign as the world’s number one and the most successful Asian Games athlete with seven gold medals in total.

Nicol, who was inducted into the World Squash Federation (WSF) ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2011 and voted the World Games Greatest Athlete of All Time (GOAT) on Monday, said it was hard to believe two years have passed outside the glass court since announcing her retirement in February 2019.

“My post-retirement has been absolutely amazing…I am learning so much more and I am seeing how capable I am of doing things outside of squash,” she told Bernama through video interview.

“I am studying online and also doing my motivational talks, so reaching out to people, getting their inputs and knowing that I get to give back in some ways. That is something really fulfilling for me to know that I can do this for others,” said Nicol, who last played in the British Open in May 2019.

Although retired, Nicol is actively involved in promoting squash, women empowerment and giving motivational talks, besides having served as mentor for the Malaysian contingent at the 2019 SEA Games.

Nicol, however, is truly amazed and feels privileged for all the love and support from the Malaysian fans throughout her career till now, especially during the World Games Greatest Athlete of All Time online poll.

Despite being the only Asian, Nicol outclassed 23 other candidates representing various sports after garnering 318,943 votes to secure the win with an over 200,000-vote majority when the one-month polling period ended on Monday night.

Speaking on here future goals, Nicol, who is known for her humbleness and beautiful smile, continued that many of her goals and unfinished plans are happening for her now.

“My path is really to go out and give back to society, to stand for the women, youth and sports, to have a voice for those who want to speak up. I have experienced the life I experienced in squash, and now I am ready to really speak up and give others the chance to have a voice through me.

“To be honest, absolutely nothing (I wish to change as an athlete), I have achieved what I have achieved and I am truly proud of what I have done of myself,” she said.

Asked about her experience in completing the Foundations of Positive Psychology course at the University of Pennsylvania, Nicol said psychology had always been her interest since her playing career.

“That is why when I was training, I always have interest in wanting to understand more about the mind and how to figure out what to do while I am competing…But in the process, I actually realized that it translated into everything. We can do that on a daily basis to practice our mind to go stronger and think positively in so many ways.

“My message to future players is just to keep training hard, keep working towards your goal and also have that guts, hunger and fire in you to push further and strive further for what you truly want for yourself,” she said.

Nicol also hopes that the community will come together as a whole to be more compassionate to each other and to really stay true and positive as much as possible in this tough time against the COVID-19 pandemic.