Background
Esdaile was born on 1 June 1987, and has a visual disability called oculocutaneous albinism.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Nicole Esdaile
Edit ProfileCareer
She took up the sport in 1999, and made her national team debut in 2010. Subsequently, she has competed at the 2010 World Championships, 2011 IBSA Africa Oceania Regional Champions and 2011 IBSA World Cup. She was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in goalball.
Esdaile is a goalball player, and is classified as a B2 competitor.
Her introduction to the sport was in primary school in 1999. She has continuously played it since then
Esdaile made her national team debut in 2010 at the World Championships. In a game against Greece, she scored a goal immediately following a penalty.
Her team made it the quarter finals before losing to Russia 3-6.
Her team then met the Spain women"s national goalball team to try to earn a spot in the fifth/sixth place match. Australia walked away 8-7 victors, but lost the fifth/sixth place match to the Israel women"s national goalball team 6-8. She was with the team during the 2011 IBSA Africa Oceania Regional Champions, which served as the Paralympic qualifying tournament.
She scored three goals in the team"s victory.
That the team qualified for the Games came as a surprise, as the Australian Paralympic Committee head been working on player development with the idea of qualifying for the 2016 Summer Paralympics. An Australian team had not participated since the 2000 Summer Paralympics, when they earned an automatic selection as hosts, and the team finished last in the competition.
The country has not medalled in the event since 1976. Going into the Paralympics, the team was ranked eighth in the world.
In the 2012 Summer Paralympics tournament, the Belles played games against Japan, Canada, the United States and Sweden.
They lost every game, and did not advance to the finals. Esdaile was the team"s lead scorer, with four goals.
Achievements
Membership
As a member of the 2011 team, she finished sixth at the IBSA World Cup. Esdaile was a named a member of the Aussie Belles that was going to the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
