Video Shout-Out from Carol Cooke

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
3 x Paralympian - 2012 London Paralympics (1 Gold)  - 2016 Rio Paralympics (2 Gold) - 2021 Tokyo Paralympics (1 Silver)
2011/2013/2014/2015/2017/2018/2019 UCI World ParaCycling Championships - 9 Gold, 5 Silver
Author of 'The Force Within' released 2021 and  'Finding Your Inner Gold - A Gold Medal Paralympian's Secrets to Success' - released 2015  available on www.carolcooke.com.au

BIOGRAPHY

One of the most inspirational figures in Australian sport, at 62 Carol is still taking on the world in Para Cycling racing people more than half her age.  She believes that nothing is impossible, that anyone can overcome adversity and self-doubt to find their inner gold. Carol will have you wanting to tap into your resilience to achieve your biggest dreams, so you too can Find Your Inner Gold.

Carol was born in Canada in 1961. She worked as a Police Officer in Canada for 14 years including, 4 years undercover with the drug squad. Carol was devastated when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998. By 2001 she was using a wheelchair full time. However, through regular exercise and Botox injections in her legs, Carol not only regained the ability to walk but took up competitive rowing and cycling. Carol was a former national swimmer in Canada. In 2006 she took up rowing, having been identified at a Paralympic Talent Search day. 

She proved a natural on the water narrowly missing out on a position on the Beijing 2008 team and placed sixth at the 2009 World Rowing Championships. Carol switched sports to cycling with a plan to make the London 2012 Paralympic team. Carol achieved her goal when she was named in the Australian Paralympic team for London 2012. In London years of toil paid off. Carol won a gold medal in the Mixed Time Trial T1–2 event. In 2013 at the World Para-Cycling Championships Carol became a Dual World Champion, backed it up in 2014 and again won the Time Trial and the silver in the Road Race. In 2016 at the Rio Paralympics Carol won 2 Gold Medals on the road in the Time Trial and the Road Race. Then again in 2019 she was a dual World Champion, finishing the year No. 1 in the world. In 2021 at the Tokyo Paralympics whe won Silver in the Time Trial and unfortunately had a crash in the Road Race landing her in hospital.

Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Carol has dedicated her working life to raising awareness and funds for MS. She developed and still leads the operation of the 24 hour Mega Swim event, dedicated to raising money for MS. The Mega Swim has now raised in excess of $11 Million in the last 20 years. In 2014 Carol was honoured with an Australia Day Award being name a ‘Member’ of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to sport and philanthropy. Carol lives the philosophy that you must dare to face your fears. It is advice she shares through her work as an inspiring motivational speaker telling of her incredible life story.

EXPERIENCE
Carol has been a motivational speaker since 1999 as an Ambassador for MS Australia. More recently since winning medals in London, Rio and Tokyo she has inspired 1000's of people speaking at schools, companies and sporting clubs. 2019 Australian Female Road Para Cyclist of the Year, 2017 Victorian and Australian Female Para Cyclist of the Year. 2016 Victorian Cyclist of the Year 2016 Australian Female ParaCyclist of the Year 2015 Victorian Female Para Cyclist of the Year. 2015 Finalist for Victorian Australian of the Year, 2014 Honoured as a Member – Order of Australia, 2013 Victorian Cyclist of the Year, 2013 Victorian Female Para-cyclist of the Year, 2013 Female Sportsperson of the Year – Vic Disability Sport and Rec, 2013 Top Elite Athlete with a Disability- Victorian Institute of Sport, 2013 Australian Female Para-cyclist of the Year, 2012 Victorian Female Para-cyclist of the Year, 2012 Australian of the Year Nominee.