Carol Cooke AM PLY
Current role: Author and Speaker
Current organsiation: Self employed
What sport did you hold a scholarship for at VIS: Para rowing and Para cycling
Time as VIS athlete: 2007 - 2024
Tell us about your life after your time as an athlete at the VIS?
At 63 years young I'm not sure what will happen in 2025 and beyond. The world is my oyster and I'm happy to give anything a try.
Who knows, another book may be on the cards, or a job in the Para world but one thing is sure I will keep riding my trike and keeping fit!
What is your proudest sporting achievement?
My proudest sporting achievement used to be getting to my first Paralympic Games at the age of 51 and winning gold.
However, that has changed in 2024 and I now believe that my proudest moment was being able to get back on the trike and get to the World Road Championships with only 8 weeks of preparation after being extremely ill and almost dying!
I wanted to leave my sport on my own terms and to be able to race my last time trial at the age of 63. Coming fifth, and not be too far behind third place, makes me very proud of what I was able to achieve.
What is your proudest moment outside of sport?
My proudest moment outside of sport was starting the 24-Hour Mega Swim in 2001.
I ran it at the Fitzroy Pool to start with and is still going strong. I retired from running it in 2020 with not only Fitzroy hosting the swim but other regional pools; Sydney, Hobart and Canberra pools, running it as well.
When I left in 2020 we had raised just over $11 million dollars for people living with Multiple Sclerosis. It gave them the chance to apply for a scholarship to follow a dream.
What is the most valuable lesson you learnt during your time at the VIS?
To make sure you live one moment at a time. Don't be in a hurry to reach your destination because the journey there is the most important thing. Love the journey, believe in yourself and you can accomplish anything.
