Nives Monico won on seas all over the world, forming a close-knit couple with her usual crewmate Anna Bacchiega. Monico joined the national team in 420 class in 1980, and the following year won bronze at the World Championships and Italian championships. Then in 1982 she went to 470, winning the world title in Acapulco and the Italian Championship. She and Bacchiega won the 1984 World gold at Laargs in Scotland. In 1985-86 Monico won the European Championships and the Italian Championships, repeating as national champion again in 1987. From 2000s she sailed on bigger boats and later became a sailing instructor in the Veneto Region.