No limits in sight for talented athlete

MOSES LAKE — In her mid-twenties, Nickie Lustig is still weighing her options as to what she will do with the rest of her life. While she is considering a return to fire fighting, pursuit of a master's degree and a variety of athletic pursuits, she doesn't seem to be interested in limiting herself to one specific path in life.

That is quite understandable considering that just two short years ago, Lustig's options were nearly taken away when a serious accident during a fire fighting operation left her on the verge of death. Despite a severe head trauma and other major injuries, Lustig not only survived, but recovered well enough to resume the types of physical activities that most people could not handle at the peak of their health.

Lustig recently competed in the Moses Lake Family Triathlon, completing a short-distance triathlon held at Blue Heron Park. Despite not training for the specific skills used in the triathlon, she finished the course well ahead of many of her competitors.

She was in the triathlon, as she has throughout her life, able to rely on her natural athleticism to help her succeed. Lustig believes it was her athletic lifestyle that allowed her to survive and recover from her accident.

"Fitness is how I stayed alive," said Lustig of the key to her survival.

After a standout athletic career at Moses Lake High School, Lustig went on to Gonzaga University where she joined the women's rowing team.

At Gonzaga, she was an all-conference and all Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association first-team honoree. In 2002, she made the U.S. Rowing Honor Roll and was named the Gonzaga Bulldog Club Senior Women's Athlete of the Year.

In addition to rowing, Lustig also has a love for fighting fires. She said she enjoys the physical nature of the work and feeds off the excitement of the fire fighting environment.

Because of the injuries sustained in her accident, she has not yet been medically cleared to get back into the field and onto the fire lines. It is something she hopes to do again, but she knows it will be an uphill battle.

"If that (her medical status) changes, I'll maybe choose a career in fire," said Lustig. "It may never happen. I think grad school is the way to go."

Should she not be able to resume her role as a fire fighter, Lustig hopes to return to Gonzaga to further her education.

With a degree in special education, Lustig is looking to pick up a master's degree and is considering a career in therapy.

Lustig, who herself spent several weeks in the hospital recovering from her accident, wants to help others with the rehabilitation and recovery process that allowed her to resume a normal life. She is particularly interested in working with children.

"Kids are what I'm drawn to," said Lustig of where she sees herself in a therapy career.

Lustig is fulfilling her desire to work with kids by serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the Gonzaga women's crew. While she does like helping the younger rowers improve their skills, she doesn't foresee a career in coaching.

"I'm still an athlete at heart," said Lustig. "I'd rather do the participation than the coaching."

Currently, Lustig is taking a break from rowing and sampling a few other athletic activities.

"I can't row to the level I used to row … that's frustrating," explained Lustig. "I'm just mixing it up a little bit."

She has tried running, but finds it to be a bit monotonous. Lustig is fond of bicycling and likes the quality of the workout she gets from swimming, so more triathlons may be in her future plans.

Whatever those future plans may entail, Lustig has a positive outlook on life that should allow her to excel in whatever path she chooses.

"Whatever happens, happens," remarked Lustig. "I'm excited I'm back working again and being a part of life."