Peter Nicol

Peter Nicol

Peter Nicol, MBE (born April 5, 1973 in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire), is a former professional squash player from the United Kingdom, who represented first Scotland and then England in international squash. In 1998, while still competing for Scotland, he became the first player from the UK to hold the World No. 1 ranking. During his career, he won one World Open title, two British Open titles, and four Commonwealth Games Gold Medals. He is widely considered to be one of the most outstanding international squash players of his time. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/squash/5192012.stm Unknown legend] , news.bbc.co.uk]

During his career, Nicol was well known for his excellent retrieving game, as well as being an extremely tough competitor to break down. His rivalry with the Canadian player Jonathon Power was amongst the most famous and extended in the history of squash.

Nicol was ranked World No. 1 for a total of 60 months during his career, including a continuous 24 month stint in 2002-2003.

After finishing runner-up at the World Open in 1997 and 1998, Nicol won the title in 1999, beating Ahmed Barada of Egypt in the final 15-9, 15-13, 15-11. He continued to hold the title of "world champion" through to 2002 as the men's World Open was not held in 2000 or 2001 due to difficulties in securing sponsorship for the event.

After initially representing Scotland in international squash, Nicol switched his representation to England in 2001, claiming that he felt he was not receiving sufficient support from Scottish Squash, the national governing body. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0058/print.shtml Peter Nicol defects to England 2001] , bbc.co.uk]

Nicol enjoyed considerable success at the Commonwealth Games, where squash became a medal sport in 1998. In 1998, representing Scotland, he won a men's singles Gold Medal (beating Jonathon Power in the final), and a men's doubles Bronze Medal. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, representing England, Nicol won a men's singles Silver Medal (losing in the final to Power), and a men's doubles Gold Medal (partnering Lee Beachill). In 2006, again representing England, Nicol won another men's singles Gold Medal (beating Australia's David Palmer in the final), and another men's doubles Gold Medal (partnering Beachill again).

Other career highlights included winning three consecutive Super Series Finals titles (1999-2001), two PSA Masters titles (2000 & 2004), three Tournament of Champions titles (2001 & 2003-4), and two British National Championship titles (1996 & 2003).

In July 2006, Nicol announced that he would be retiring after the 2006 World Open in September. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/squash/5192420.stm] Nicol's final match was a loss to Thierry Lincou in the quarter-finals. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/squash/5311044.stm]

Nicol now has turned his focus to promoting the game, providing sponsorship, support and coaching through his company Peter Nicol Squash, and promoting events worldwide through Eventis Sports Marketing Ltd. As the recently named squash ambassador for Prince, Nicol's long-time sponsor, Nicol co-incided a launch of Peternicolsquash.com, an online retailer of Prince equipment.

World Open final appearances

Nicol also won men's doubles Gold Medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and 2006 (partnering Lee Beachill on both occasions).

References

External links

* [http://www.psa-squash.com/entry/ranking.php?player=T00083 Profile at psa-squash.com]
* [http://dev.squashinfo.com/player-1 Profile at squashinfo.com]
* [http://www.squashpics.com/peter_nicol.htm Page at squashpics.com]
* [http://www.squashtalk.com/html/news/globalgallery30.htm squashtalk.com article regarding Nicol's switch from Scotland to England]
* [http://www.squashtalk.com/html/news/july06/news06-7-434.htm squashtalk.com article on the announcement of Nicol's retirement]
* [http://www.squashsite.co.uk/peter_nicol_retirement.htm squashsite.co.uk article on Nicol's retirement]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/squash/5192012.stm BBC article on the announcement of Nicol's retirement]


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