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natalie cook - athlete
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| DOB |
19 January 1975 |
| Place of Birth |
Townsville , Queensland |
| Nationality |
Australian |
| Resides |
Brisbane, Queensland |
| Height |
181cm |
| Profession |
Beach Volleyball Athlete |
| Sporting History |
2004 Athens Olympic Games 4th Place
2003 World Championships Bronze Medal
2000 Sydney Olympic Games Gold Medal
1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Bronze Medal, 1996 World Championships Silver Medal |
| Awards |
FIVB Team of the Decade 1990 - 2000
Order of Australia |
| Favourite Food |
Indian |
| Favourite Colour |
GOLD for obvious reasons |
| Sporting Heroes |
Greg Norman, Michael Jordan |
| Hobbies |
Golf, reading and going to the movies |
| Motto |
No Limits and always believe in the power of your dreams! |
| 10 Year Plan |
After the heartache of Athens , I am determined to win another Olympic Gold medal in Beijing in 2008. Also, I am determined to build the sport of beach volleyball to a new level through my company Sandstorm, and provide opportunities for others through the sport. Go Girl! Australian Natalie Cook clearly does just that. Not content with being a beach volleyball achiever at the highest level, no less than an Olympic Gold, she also writes books. Natalie's motivational book "Go Girl", published in September 2001 is described as an "inspirational tale of courage and audacity". On the cover, Natalie appeals to her readers "Achieve your dreams"; "Unleash your power". This full time beach volleyball professional lives by this credo and it has secured her a place in the Olympic annals. Natalie first started playing beach volleyball in 1993 and turned professional just one year later. She has shared many of her career magic moments with Kerri Pottharst, including three 2001 World Tour podiums and four 4th places. Not bad for a season that could have been an anticlimax after snatching the Olympic Gold in front of a home crowd at Bondi Beach, Sydney 2000. Natalie joined forces with Nicole Hannan (nee Sanderson) on their quest for more gold in Athens . After a successful 2003, culminating in a World Championship Bronze medal, Natalie suffered a serious shoulder injury which she carried for all of 2004. "Expecting to win an Olympic Gold medal with only one arm was my biggest mistake. I really did still believe we could do it". And they almost did. After damaging her shoulder further she courageously battled to the end, losing narrowly to the USA in the Bronze match. Her courage and determination were inspiring to watch and will be placed in history as one of the gutsiest efforts given by an Olympic athlete.
So is there anywhere else to go? What does winning mean to this Olympic Champion? "Achieving my goals and influencing and motivating others to do the same", she insists. And the next goal? "The World Championships as the Australians are yet to win a World Champs". The challenge doesn't stop. In 2008, there's another Olympic medal up for grabs in Beijing . Natalie still has her best years in front of her but looking ahead past her active sporting life, she would like to be involved in the beach sport she loves. "I would like to build beach volleyball in Australia so that it is one of our high profile sports. I would like to give everyone the opportunity to play our great sport". Go girl! |
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