Richard Nizielski
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games • Other |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Richard•Nizielski |
| Used name | Richard•Nizielski |
| Born | 27 July 1968 in Nottingham, England (GBR) |
| Measurements | 174 cm / 74 kg |
| Affiliations | West Coast Speed Skating Club |
| NOC |  Australia |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 0 |
| Silver | 0 |
| Bronze | 1 |
| Total | 1 |
Biography
Born in England but with a Polish family background, Richard Nizielski arrived in the unlikely winter sports setting of Perth, Western Australia at the age of three.
Predominantly a 500 m specialist Nizielski set a national record for the event in 1993 which still stands in 2009. His greatest successes came as with the national relay team and was a member of the Australian quartet that became world champions in 1991 in Sydney. After disappointment in 1992 when their chances of an Olympic medal were ruined by a fall the Australians rebounded to win World Championship medals in 1993 and 1994 and a first ever Winter Olympic medal in 1994 and each time Nizielski was a vital member of the team.
He retired after his third Olympic appearance in 1998 and became a fight coordinator in the theatre and television industry. Nizielski is also a qualified golf instructor and has written magazine articles on the biomechanics of the golf swing.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Winter Olympics | Short Track Speed Skating (Skating) | AUS |
Richard Nizielski | |||
| 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) | 21 | |||||
| 5,000 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) | Australia | 7 | ||||
| 1994 Winter Olympics | Short Track Speed Skating (Skating) | AUS |
Richard Nizielski | |||
| 500 metres, Men (Olympic) | 10 | |||||
| 1,000 metres, Men (Olympic) | 13 | |||||
| 5,000 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) | Australia | 3 | Bronze | |||
| 1998 Winter Olympics | Short Track Speed Skating (Skating) | AUS |
Richard Nizielski | |||
| 5,000 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) | Australia | 8 |
Olympic Records
Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.| Games | Date | Sport | Event | Phase | Mark | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 Winter Olympics | 24 February 1994 | Short Track Speed Skating (Skating) | 500 metres, Men | Round One, Heat One | 44.86 | 1 |
Other participations
| Games | Role | NOC | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Winter Olympics | Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony | AUS |
Richard Nizielski |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships (1–1–0 1991 Sydney gold: 5000 m relay; 1994 Guildford silver: 5000 m relay)