Nickole Salem strikes gold anew

Nickole Salem, center, is all smiles after winning the gold medal in the 6-7 year old division of the 2022 Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championships. (CONTIBUTED PHOTO)

Nickole Salem added another notch to her belt after winning the gold medal in the 6-7 year old division of the 2022 Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championships.

Salem beat two other BJJ practitioners to crack into the championship round, where she also emerged victorious to top her age group of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation-organized competition.  

Salem’s father, Nicko, said her daughter was emotional after her win in the 2022 Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championships.

“After Nickole won the championship round she ran up to me and gave me a big hug. She had not shared what she felt but I knew what was going on in her mind. Nickole was crying at the end of the championship round and I felt like it was many emotions compiled into one,” he said.

The younger Salem’s gold medal was made sweeter after she almost lost via submission during her preliminary matches.

“She was a little sore from almost being submitted twice via armbar and fighting two matches prior to the championship round. At the end she fought hard to secure the win by points and I could tell it was an overwhelming feeling for her. On top of that I knew that she was extremely happy to win and take home gold, because she loves making her friends and the family proud,” said Nicko. 

Nickole’s mother, Maria Victoria, originally from Garapan, Saipan, was also overwhelmed with a lot of emotions, because “we both knew that she deserves it,” he said. 

To prepare for one of the biggest jiu-jitsu competitions of the year, Nickole trained almost seven days a week and on each day for about 2 hours or more. 

“Her jiu-jitsu gym allowed her to come in on off-days to train extra hours to sharpen her game. Before this tournament, Nickole fought back-to-back competitions the past two Saturdays for Newbreed in Raleigh and Charleston just to keep the edge on her competition speed.  She loves to compete for the pleasure of winning to make us proud and traveling to new places,” said Nicko.

Nickole’s parents credited Malachy Friedman, her BJJ instructor, for all her success in the sport and for even going literally the extra mile to support their daughter.

“I am very happy with the outcome of her performance and I give a lot of credit also to her instructor Malachy Friedman for showing up to Florida just in time to coach her. He taught a seminar in Las Vegas for kids BJJ and had to fly all the way across the country hours prior for the sole purpose of coaching Nickole. He’s not just a dedicated coach but an amazing human being and we trust his program. Everything was in the right place at the right time and I know it was what God had intended it to be,” said Nicko, who originally is from San Antonio, Saipan.

To celebrate Nickole’s gold medal win in the 2022 Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championships, the Salem family drove to Orlando, Florida where they will be staying one whole week and enjoy Disneyworld and Legoland.