Natalie
Cook
Olympic
Gold Medalist
Natalie Cook,
O.A.M., has stamped her name in the Beach Volleyball history books
and in those of sport in Australia.
Captaining the Australian Indoor Junior Volleyball team before making
her debut on the beach in 1993, Natalie was immediately ranked no.
1 in Australia. She entered her first World Tour event that same
year, going on to play more World Tour events than any other female
player in the history of the sport. And with many playing years
ahead of her, it doesn’t appear that her record will be broken
for some time.
Natalie and then partner Kerri Pottharst have won Australia’s
only Olympic medals in Beach Volleyball, with Bronze in Atlanta,
1996 and Gold in Sydney, 2000. Add to this a Silver Medal at the
1996 World Championships in Brazil and it's obvious why the Federation
of International Volleyball recognised the extraordinary success
of Natalie and Kerri at Olympic level by awarding them the accolade
of Team of the Decade 1990-2000.
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Natalie and Kerri were each awarded a Medal of the
Order of Australia (OAM) in January 2001.
Partnering Nicole Sanderson
in Athens, Natalie has now participated in three Olympic Games.
Natalie Cook’s name dominates the winner’s lists on
the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour, finishing top of the rankings
in six years of her nine-year history and second in the other three.
Highly sought after as a public speaker, Natalie captivates the
hearts and minds of her audience with her power, skill and determination.
Her passion for Beach Volleyball goes far beyond her own sporting
success. Through the development of her company, Sandstorm,
Natalie is working to build a legacy to the sport, one that will
ensure a strong future for the sport in Australia.
In Digibeach, Natalie shares her expertise, techniques and exercise
programs that have made her a legend in the sport. |
