Nicolien Corbeau grew up in the pool. Her parents put her into swim lessons at a young age, which is where she immediately fell in love with the sport.
“I feel like I’ve been swimming my whole life," Corbeau said.
The early plunge paid off. Corbeau is now in her sophomore year at FGCU, where she swims at the Division I level.
“Nico is a great swimmer," FGCU assistant coach Antonio Nunez-Alvarez said. "She’s one of those swimmers you want on your team. She’s someone who always comes willing to work hard and listen to what you have to say.”
That work ethic was fostered back at home. Nicolien was born in Santa Crus, California, before moving to Portland, Oregon, for high school. During that stretch, she was always in the pool with her family.
Nicolien's parents both swam collegiately. Her mother, Shannon, competed at UCLA, while her father, Jim, swam at Cal and for the Dutch National Team.
Her two older brothers are current college swimmers, too. Caspar is the oldest. He went to Texas for undergrad before transferring to Indiana this year. Nicolien's other brother, Angus, swims at Southern Methodist University and even made it to the ASUN Championships last year, which FGCU competed in too.
“With that comes a little bit of pressure, that feeling of comparison, but knowing really grateful I’ve been able to connect with my brothers and my parents through it," Nicolien said.
Caspar has found great success in the pool. Nicolien's eldest brother has swum in two Olympics. The Corbeaus have dual citizenship thanks to their father, so Caspar swam for the Netherlands in the 2020 Tokyo games and this past summer's 2024 Paris Olympics. He even won bronze in the men's 200-meter breaststroke in Paris.
“To see him make a final and win a medal was insane," Nicolien said. "I was so proud of him.”
Now, Nicolien wants to follow in her big brother's footsteps, hoping one day she could make it to the national or even international stage.
“If I can put in that same motivation, like I have been, and that same effort, then it would be amazing to get to that point,” Nicolien said.
However, before Nicolien sets her sights on those levels, she wants to carry on the Corbeau name at FGCU.
“It’s super fun to know that I’m continuing that legacy and keeping the name alive," Nicolien said.
FGCU swim and dive hosts the Eagles Triple Distance Invitational at the FGCU Aquatics Complex on Saturday, Jan. 4, beginning at 10 a.m.