Natalie Cook
Natalie Cook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Natalie Louise Cook[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | [1] Townsville, Queensland[1] | 19 January 1975|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 73 kg (161 lb)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Last updated: 4 June 2015 |
Natalie Louise Cook
Early life
Cook was born in Townsville, Queensland. She was the dux of her school, Corinda State High (located in the western suburbs of Brisbane). [citation needed] She enrolled in pre-medicine college courses, and also took up volleyball, captaining the Australian Indoor Junior Team in 1992. In 1993 she began playing beach volleyball. In 1994 she went professional and gave up her pursuit of a medical degree. [citation needed]
Career
Cook partnered with Kerri Pottharst to represent Australia at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996,[4] winning a bronze medal—the first time that beach volleyball had been an Olympic sport. In the same year, the pair won a silver medal at the world championships, and came first in the World Tour Event in Japan.
Cook and Pottharst did not play together again until 2000. They finished third in the World Tour Events, held in France and Portugal, and then participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. They dominated the competition, winning the gold medal. In the aftermath of their Olympic win, the pair were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. Cook and Pottharst were included in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball's Team of the Decade. After the Olympics, Pottharst retired, and Cook found a new partner in
Recognition
In January 2001, Cook was awarded the Australian Sports Medal.[6]
Cook was also awarded the
In 2024, Cook was named as a Queensland Great.[8]
Personal life
Cook currently resides in Brisbane and is married to fellow beach volleyballer Sarah Maxwell.[9] In addition to her sporting career, Cook tours on the public speaking circuit as a leading motivational speaker[10] attracting big audiences and has launched her own beach volleyball-related business, Sandstorm.
Books
- Go Girl! (2001)
- Health & Wellbeing Millionaire
References
- ^ a b c d e f Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Natalie Cook". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "WOA Leadership". World Olympians Association. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "Nat Cook". corporate.olympics.com.au. Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ "Natalie COOK". Olympics.com. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "London Olympics: Tearful Cook bows out of fifth Games". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ "Award 970441". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 16 January 2001. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Award 886954". Australian Honours Search Faciltiy. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 January 2001. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "2024 Queensland Greats honoured on Queensland Day". The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Gold medallist Natalie Cook marries Sarah Marshall, 30 November 2008
- ^ Australian Motivational Speaker, 11 May 2016
External links
- Official website
- Natalie Cook at Olympics.com
- Natalie Cook at Olympic.org (archived)
- Natalie Cook at Olympedia
- Natalie Cook at the Australian Olympic Committee
- Natalie Cook at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame
- Natalie Cook at the FIVB beach volleyball database
- Natalie Cook at the Beach Volleyball Database