| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Nicole Williams |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | 1983 Youngstown, Ohio |
| Residence | New York City |
| Website | [1] |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Roller derby |
| Club | Gotham Girls Roller Derby |
| Team | Bronx Gridlock and GGRD All Stars |
| Achievements and titles | |
| World finals | B&T WC Team USA member |
| Regional finals | WFTDA Eastern Regionals Winner: 2007,2008,2010,2011 |
| National finals | WFTDA Nationals Winner 2008, WFTDA 3rd place 2010 |
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,she 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 Gotham's travel team, and was also a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association's Tournaments Committee.[5] She was selected for Team USA at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.[7]
Thunders won Gotham's Best Jammer award jointly in 2007 and in her own right in 2008, 2009[3], 2010 and 2011. She also won the Derby News Network readers' Most Valuable Jammer award in 2010[8] and again in 2011.[9] She is double jointed, which she believes helps her maneuver while jamming.[5]
Years skating: 14 years ice skating, 6 years roller skating Years playing derby: 6