SHE is the face of the Opening Ceremony.
The Opening Ceremony and her flight through the air have made her famous, but Nikki Webster is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.
Nikki, 13, relaxed yesterday at her home in Sydney’s inner west.
“It was amazing to be such a big part of the ceremony,” said Nikki. “And doing a press conference and live TV was just like being in the movies, but I’m still the same – I’m enjoying it all but it won’t change me.”
She captured our hearts on Friday night, sent our pulses racing as she swam through the air and shivers down our spines with her rendition of Under Southern Skies.
She was watched by a worldwide television audience of almost four billion people, but yesterday Nikki was just like any other 13-year-old as she took it easy with her proud parents, Tina and Mark, her 16-year-old brother Scott, and her dog, appropriately named Star.
Nikki beat off strong competition to win the role in the Opening Ceremony, but she has one special talent in her favour – she knew how to fly. She said: “I have flown before for a TV ad, but it wasn’t as high up as 25m. My gymnastics helped, too, so it came pretty easy to me.”
So easy, in fact, she wanted to fly even higher. “It was an amazing experience. I would have gone higher if I could. I felt safe and secure in the harness. I just told them when I was ready to be lifted. Singing live was amazing too.” There were no butterflies when she was suspended 25m in the air above the giant stadium.
Nikki, who sang a duet with Michael Jackson in 1996, said: “I met him during his HIStory tour with my dance company. We had a big M&M fight. He was great fun.”
Nikki has also starred as Brigitta in The Sound of Music beside Lisa McCune and John Waters and appeared as the young Cosette in Les Miserables.
But the Olympics has helped her fulfill her biggest ambition – to record a CD. Her song, Under Southern Skies, will feature on the Olympic album
– Vickie Maye
Source: Sydney Morning Herald