Nikki Kubes
At the ripe young age of 17, Nikki Kubes and Ronda Rousey represented their country during the Athens Olympic Games in Greece. Neither judoka took home a medal in 2004 but they both made their country proud nonetheless. Kubes will always be able to say she won an Olympic match – after doing so in a mere 8 seconds before dropping two straight. Rousey went on to win a bronze in the 2008 Beijing Games before striking UFC gold years later and becoming one of the most recognizable women on the planet.
Injuries may have ended the Olympic career Kubes once envisioned for herself, but there was still a medal in store for her yet. Last year, Kubes’ father, a cop himself, pinned a badge over his daughter’s heart in Texas where she is currently serving as a Police Officer for the Fort Worth Police Department. Six years ago, my pop pinned a badge to my chest. I know of the love and pride she was feeling first hand.
Policing can be a rough job for any officer, be they a guy or a gal – but I’ll take an Olympic caliber judoka with me into a street fight any day of the week.
