1996
Olympic Games Bronze medal (Atlanta)
1996 World Championships Bronze medal (Rio de Janeiro)
2000 Olympic Games Gold medal (Sydney)
2003 World Championships Bronze medal (Rio de Janeiro)
2004 Olympic Games 4th place (Athens)
2007 1st Place Korean Open
Current
Playing Partner:
Tamsin
Barnett
Favourite
Food:
Indian
Favourite
Colour:
GOLD
(for obvious reasons)
Sporting
Heroes:
Michael
Jordan and Greg Norman
Hobbies:
Golf,
reading, and going to the movies
Motto:
NO
LIMITS and always believe in the power of your dreams!
Ten
Year Plan:
I am determined to build the sport of beach volleyball to a new level through my company Sandstorm (www.sandstorm.com.au) and provide opportunities for others through the sport.
I see my role on the Athletes commission of the Australian Olympic Committee as very important to the future success of the next generation of Olympians. I am really excited about the possibilities that may present with the AOC.
Go Girl! Australian Natalie Cook clearly does just that. Not content with being a beach volleyball achiever at the nighest 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 the 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 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.
After a successful 2007 with Tamsin Barnett, winning the Korean Open, the pair looked set to achieve their goal of winning GOLD in Beijing. Winning their pool, they built momentum and looked on top of their game. It proved a tough ask with the girls bowing out in the quarter finals to arch rivals Brasil. Nat and Tamsin left Beijing happy with their performance and with a shrug of their shoulders said “that’s sport”.
Is London calling? – with 4 Olympic appearances under her belt (bikini), Nat would love to represent Australia again in 2012. However after 16 years of competing at an International level she has decided to take a much needed rest. She has until the middle of 2010 to pursue other interests before having to get back into high level training. Natalie feels she still has one more Olympics left in her.
Looking ahead past her active sporting life, she would like to continue 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!
If you would like Natalie to appear at your next corporate event please click
here
