Bonnie Thunders

For the South African singer-songwriter, see Nikki Williams.
Bonnie Thunders

Bonnie Thunders (in red) jams against Rat City
Personal information
Birth name Nicole Williams
Nationality American
Born 1983
Youngstown, Ohio
Residence New York City
Website
Sport
Country United States
Sport Roller derby
Club Gotham Girls Roller Derby
Team GGRD All Stars
Achievements and titles
World finals World Cup Winner: 2011, 2014
Regional finals WFTDA Easterns Winner: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
National finals WFTDA Championships Winner 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Nicole Williams (born 1983), known as Bonnie Thunders, is a roller derby skater.

Williams grew up in Rome, New York, where she attended the Rome Free Academy,[1] before studying conservation biology with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, linked to Syracuse University. She was a leading member of the college's synchronized skating squad,[2] the Syracuse Orange Experience, and also spent time playing soccer competitively.[3]

After moving to New York City, Williams found roller derby and traded in her ice skates for roller skates. In 2006, Williams successfully tried out for the Gotham Girls Roller Derby, and was placed on their Bronx Gridlock team.[4] Taking the name "Bonnie Thunders", in her first season, she was named the league's Rookie of the Year.[1] She soon became part of Gotham's travel team (All Stars), and skated for them when they won the 2008 WFTDA Championships, at which she won the Most Valuable Player award.[5] Although she worked for several years at a conservation charity,[6] in 2010 she set up the Five Stride Skate Shop, a skater owned and operated roller skate shop in Brooklyn, NY.[5]

By 2009, Thunders was the captain of the Gotham Girls All Stars, and was also a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association's Tournaments Committee.[5] She currently holds the position of WFTDA Competition Manager. In 2012, Bonnie elected to retire from the Bronx Gridlock team in order to focus on playing with the All Stars. She was selected for Team USA at the 2011[7] and 2014 Roller Derby World Cup.[8]

Thunders won Gotham's Best Jammer award jointly in 2007 and in her own right in 2008, 2009,[3] 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. She also won the Derby News Network readers' Most Valuable Jammer award in 2010[9] and again in 2011.[10] She is double jointed, which she believes helps her maneuver while jamming.[5]

Skating experience

Years skating: 14 years ice skating, 8 years roller skating Years playing derby: 8

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 "Star player for NYC roller derby team has connections to Rome", Rome Sentinel
  2. ↑ Kristiana Glavin, "Synchronized skaters practice for perfection", 10 February 2004
  3. 1 2 Thomas Gerbasi, "Skater Profile: Bonnie Thunders of the Bronx Gridlock", Gotham Girls Roller Derby, 29 June 2010
  4. ↑ Liz Scarff, "Roller girls: the fast and the furious", Marie Claire, May 2007
  5. 1 2 3 4 "August 2010 Featured Skater: Bonnie Thunders", Women's Flat Track Derby Association
  6. ↑ Abby Luby, "Bronx Gridlock team skates in citywide women's derby league", New York Daily News, 14 March 2009
  7. ↑ Justice Feelgood Marshall, "Team USA Announces 28-Skater Roster", Derby News Network, 7 August 2011
  8. ↑ Talionis, Lex (15 October 2013). "2013-14 Team USA Roster Revealed". Derby News Network. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "DNN Best of 2010 Reader Poll: Results", Derby News Network, 31 December 2010
  10. ↑ "DNN Best of 2011 Poll: Results", Derby News Network, 26 December 2011
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