Alexandra Nicholson inducted into the World Acrobatic Hall of Fame

The Island Newspaper, Ambergris Caye, Belize            Vol. 11, No. 20            May 24, 2001

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Alexandra, during her competitive years, on the cover of JET Magazine

Held recently in Las Vegas, Nevada, The World Acrobatic Society's Gallery of Honor presented Alexandra Nicholson of Maruba Resort Jungle Spa the title of Acrobatic Legend for her spectacular achievements and expertise in Trampoline and Tumbling.

    Alexandra was described as "The Greatest Woman Trampolinist" in the history of the sport. She took the sport to higher limits in her eight years of competing. Entering over 200 National AAU Championships and International competitions, Alexandra was never defeated, taking only the gold medal. She set the tone for present day acrobatic moves being the first ever, male or female, to successfully complete the extremely difficult acrobatic movement called triffis, a triple forward somersault with a half twist. Her acrobatic routine in competition also contained the highest degree of difficulty among males and females. To this day, no trampolinist has completed a higher degree of difficulty. She was the last U.S. competitor to have won a gold medal in International Trampoline Competition. She was previously honored with the coveted Sullivan Award, recently awarded to Olympic medalist Marion Jones.

    Her sport took her all over the world competing with great Russians, East Germans, Romanians and others. She performed in New York City at Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden with Olga Korbit, on the Mike Douglas Show, with the Harlem Globetrotters, at Buckingham Palace in London for Queen Elizabeth, as the featured half time entertainment during the Los Angeles Lakers basketball game, and she performed in the movie "Billy Jack."

    Her coach, Robert Bollinger, presented her the award with an introduction that left the audience heart struck and teary-eyed. He spoke of how Alexandra's athletic talents transcended the racial barriers of the time. He described Alexandra winning her second World Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa, as being one of first times minority athletes were allowed to compete in that country. He ended by stating how emotional her final routine was to all who watched her perform in, the then Apartied, South Africa where blacks were not given any rights and could not view her spectacular event.

    Others inducted into the Hall of Fame were such great outstanding athletes such as Sammy Lee, now 80 years old, who won several Olympic gold medals in diving during WWII. Mr. Lee went on to coach the famous Olympic gold medal winner in diving, Greg Louganis who was also inducted. They join gold medal winners Mary Lou Rettan, Pat McCormick, Micky King and Klaus Dibiowsky.

    After completing her undefeated competition in Trampoline and Tumbling, Alexandra attended the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) on an athletic scholarship where she competed on the track and gymnastic teams. She also began diving for UCLA, competing for the USA diving team around the time the USA boycotted the Olympics due to politics in the Soviet Union. After graduating, she went on to work for Muhammad Ali Sports, promoting the involvement of minorities in acrobatic sports. She then retired to Belize where she helped create the internationally famous Maruba Resort as well as Francis Ford Coppola's Blancaneux Lodge. Presently, Alexandra has her own business, Mayan Secrets, which promotes Belize through the manufacture of skin and beauty products made from all natural ingredients found in the Belizean rainforest. Mayan Secret products are sold in Belize and in the US through independent distributors, web marketing and retail stores. We, in Belize, are proud to have such a famous athlete reside for over 20 years in our beautiful country.



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