Mermaids Mantras‘ Vicky Belando Nicholson’s remarkable comeback
Is this the best life and sporting comeback story of all-time? An African refugee has cheated death and disability to play in today’s Australian Youth Water Polo Championship grand finals.
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It is a remarkable journey of survival, being plucked lifeless from the Mediterranean Sea off Malta only to be resuscitated by an army medic and then adopted by an Australian-Spanish couple.
But that was the start to life for Moorooka’s Vicky Belando Nicholson, 14, a member of the crack Mermaids Water Polo Club which is contesting the Australian Youth Championship grand finals today at Chandler.
RELATED LINKS
WATCH LIVE/REPLAYS DAY 1 ACTION
WATCH LIVE/REPLAYS DAY 2 ACTION
WATCH LIVE/REPLAYS DAY 3 ACTION
WATCH LIVE/REPLAYS DAY 4 ACTION
It was in 2008 when Belando Nicholson, aged six months, and her sister, Destiny, aged 18 months at the time, were found in the ocean by the Malta army after a refugee boat from an unknown African destination had capsized, drowning their mother.
Described by the rescuing army medic as “being like a ragdoll’’, Belando Nicholson was face down in the water and had no pulse, but was revived, and two years later adopted alongside her sister by Brisbane’s Ewen Nicholson and his Spanish wife, Susana, who were living in Malta at the time.
Asked what it feels like to have her father recount her story of survival, Belando Nicholson said: “It (the story) is something different, but I feel it is normal because I have lived with it all of my life. I don’t know any different.’’
Dad Ewen added: “It is extraordinary that out of such a profound tragedy something positive came of it.’’
RELATED LINKS
YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYERS TO WATCH
WATCH THE REPLAYS – QLD WATER POLO STATE TITLES – 12s, 16s
WATCH THE REPLAYS – QLD WATER POLO STATE TITLES – 14s, 18s
Making Belando Nicholson’s life journey even more remarkable is that she was born without a fibular in her left leg, which basically means her left leg is shorter (by 14cm) than her right leg.
She has had four major surgeries to address a condition known as Fibular Hemimelia and a fifth surgery is planned.
It was that medical condition which led her to play water polo in Spain because the sport was one of the few she could play without being disadvantaged.
So when parents Ewen and Susana moved their two adopted children to Brisbane in January, finding a water polo club was essential, hence how they ended up at the Yeronga-based Mermaids club which is close to their family home.
“I was looking forward to coming here,’’ she said. “Spain was really good, but I was looking forward to a change and new experiences. And the people (at Mermaids) are nice and open and friendly.’’
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