Some dreams fizzle as soon as they appear, but there are others that burn like a raging flame — fuelling hopes and shaping futures.

A living testimony of the power of dreams is the life that is Nicole Aiken-Pinnock, who watched the senior Sunshine Girls compete in the 2003 Netball World Championship (now World Cup) from home, and from that moment dreamt she would one day represent her country at the sport’s global showpiece.

The rest, as they, is history as Aiken-Pinnock realised her dream as she went on to play in three consequent World Championships, wearing the colours of her native Jamaica with distinction, pride, and honour.

“I knew I had a passion for netball from a very young age. In 2003, when Jamaica was playing here in Jamaica, I remember just watching the world championship on my television, and that alone was an inspiration for my sister [Romelda] and me.

“I remember having conversations like, you know, the next one we’re going to be at that one; we’re going to work hard because we want to play for Jamaica as well; that looked good and that supposed to feel good; you know, those kinds of things,” Aiken-Pinnock told the Jamaica Observer.

Aiken-Pinnock went to the World Championship in 2007 in Auckland, New Zealand; in 2011 in Singapore; and in 2015 in Sydney, Australia.

“For me, it was an absolute privilege to represent my country in a world championship. It has afforded me so many possibilities, especially where the court is concerned. I was given the opportunity to showcase my talent as well as to compete in the world championship.

“At the world championship level, I was given opportunities to play England and other countries.

“I was even able to transfer my skills and knowledge to youngsters, so it was a very good opportunity. I considered it more to be a blessing and a privilege,” said Aiken-Pinnock, who had made her debut for the senior Sunshine Girls at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

The 37-year-old Aiken-Pinnock, who had captained the Sunshine Girls from 2014 to 2016, said that standing on the podium at the 2007 World Championship, where Jamaica finished third behind Australia and New Zealand, was a moment that she will cherish for the rest of her life.

“It was just an honour. I mean, you feel really elated, you feel proud, you feel special, you feel grateful, and it is just a blessing as you would have put in the hard work and you would have been rewarded.

“You would have done something for your country, as not many people get the opportunity to do so, and so you feel as if you are unique where that is concerned,” she said.

Aiken-Pinnock said that when she just entered the national programme everything was new to her, but as the years went by, she recognised that in order to be among the elite players in the world, she would have to do a lot of things differently.

“From your mindset to your training regimen to the foods you eat, everything had to be on a whole different level. I remember one of my former coaches at the time, Connie Francis, would normally say you would have to eat, breathe, and think netball. And as the years went on, I recognised what she truly meant by that, and even now in my coaching career, the mindset, everything you do regarding netball just have to be direct.

“It has to be specific to what the objectives are and what you’re aiming for, and so the preparation is just as intense when it comes to the physical workout, but it’s also a mental thing that you have to prepare yourself for because what is actually asked of you is no easy task, especially if you’re going to be on the court almost every game.

” Other than being physically fit and ready, you also have to be mentally ready for anything that may pop up.”

Aiken-Pinnock shared a disappointing moment for her during one of her World Championships games.

“I remember in 2015, I picked up an injury in the middle of the tournament, and that was devastating because you never really want to get to a tournament and have to deal with injury.

“But those things do happen while you are still in the tournament, and you just have to find another way to ensure that things are still done the way you want them to be done,” she shared.

Aiken-Pinnock also said it was a pleasure for her to groom the younger generation of netball players.

“You get a feel-good vibe, and you definitely want to inspire youngsters so that they, too, can eventually come onboard and take over.

“The reality is that whether you are or are not in the programme now, you will have to leave the programme at some point in time, and so you will make sure that whatever is done is going to be providing some inspiration to youngster in them wanting to be hungry and wanting to play for Jamaica and continue the tradition of success,” she noted.