Nicki became one of the most dominant female martial artists of her era, achieving success in both karate point fighting and Olympic-style taekwondo.
She was a dominant force on the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) circuit for years and is considered one the greatest female karate point fighters of all time.[4][5] Her accolades are extensive, including being a record eight-time NASKA Diamond Nationals Overall Grand Champion (1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000).[6][7][8] She won numerous other major tournament titles, such as the U.S. Capitol Classics in 1994, 1996 and 1997,[9][6] U.S. Open in 1994, 1996 and 1997,[10][6] Bluegrass Nationals in 1996 and 1997,[11] Compete International in 1997,[12] and Battle of Atlanta in 1999.[13][6] She was undefeated with seven straight grand championships in 1998 and returned in 2000 to win nine straight, earning her the award for "Best Overall Women's Sports Karate Fighter of the Decade" for the 1990s.[2] She was known for her reach, technique, flexibility, speed, strength, intelligence, and patience.
To pursue her Olympic dream, she transitioned to taekwondo, earning a black belt in the discipline. In 1998, she qualified for and became a member of the U.S. National Taekwondo Team, winning the women's heavyweight division at the U.S. National Team Trials,[14][15] taking bronze at the 1998 Pan American Taekwondo Championships,[16] and bronze at the National Taekwondo Championships,[17] as well as taking 2nd at the U.S. Open losing to Kao Ching-yi in the finals.[18] She trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs with the goal of making the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Her Olympic dream was thwarted when the governing body decided to only select two women, excluding her heavyweight division.[19]