MEET CAROL
Author Carol Cooke AM PLY is an inspirational sporting figure in Australia and an expert in overcoming adversity and change.
Carol was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She grew up as a swimmer with aspirations of competing at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, the opportunity vanished with the Moscow Games being boycotted.
She then followed in the footsteps of her family and joined the Metropolitan Toronto Police force where she worked for 14 years, 4 of those undercover in the Prostitution and Drug areas.
After moving to Australia and in the process of building a new life, she was devastated when diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998. By 2001, her introduction to disability had begun.
3-time Gold Medal Paralympian and 9-time World Champion in Para-Cycling
In 2005 she attended an Australian Paralympic Talent Search day and was asked to take up the sport of rowing, as it was a new sport in Beijing. She proved a natural on the water and her dream of representing her country at the highest pinnacle of sport was within her sights. Sadly her team narrowly missed out on the Beijing 2008 Paralympics but went on to place sixth at the 2009 World Rowing Championships.
Carol switched sports to cycling with a plan to make the London 2012 Paralympic team. She attained that goal winning Gold in the Time Trial, then again made the Rio Paralympics, winning 2 gold medals and then in Tokyo 2021 won silver. In between the Paralympic Games she has won 9 World Titles and in 2022 finished the year ranked 3rd in the world.
Carol believes that “nothing is impossible if we dare to face our fears and believe in ourselves” and believes “the greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”
Since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998, Carol has dedicated her working life to raising awareness and funds for MS. She developed and after 20 years she retired from leading the operation of the 24 Hour Mega Swim event, dedicated to raising money for MS. The project has now expanded to run in four states across 17 events and raised in excess of $11 million since 2001.
Along the way Carol was bestowed the honour of being named a ‘Member in the General Division (AM) of the Order of Australia for her Gold medal and her Philanthropic work and has written 2 books, Finding Your Inner Gold (2016) and The Force Within (2021).
BUY BOOKS
Learn more about Carol and her unique story through her books!
ACHIEVEMENTS
2021 Silver Medal – Tokyo Paralympics – Time Trial
2019 Australian Female Road Para Cyclist of the Year
2019 Dual World Champion – World Road Para Cycling Championships
2018 Victorian Female Para Cyclist of the Year
2018 Dual Silver Medallist – World Road Para Cycling Championships
2017 Award of Excellence – Victorian Institute of Sport
2017 Australian Female Para Cyclist of the Year
2017 Dual World Champion- World Road Para Cycling Championships
2016 Victorian Cyclist of the Year
2016 Australian and Victorian Female Para Cyclist of the Year
2016 2 x Gold Medallist – Rio Paralympic Games – Road Race and Time Trial
2015 Australian and Victorian Female Para Cyclist of the Year
2015 World Champion Female T2 – Road Time Trial – Silver medallist Female T2 – Road Race
2015 Finalist Victorian Australian of the Year
2014 Victorian Female Para Cyclist of the Year
2014 Dual World Champion Female T2 – Road Race and Road Time Trial
2014 Honoured as a Member – Order of Australia (AM)
2013 Female Sportsperson of the Year – Vic Disability Sport and Rec
2013 Elite Athlete with a Disability- Victorian Institute of Sport
2013 Victorian Cyclist of the Year
2013 Victorian Female Para Cyclist of the Year
2013 Australian Female Para Cyclist of the Year
2013 Dual World Champion Female T2 – Road Race and Road Time Trial
2012 Victorian Female Para-cyclist of the Year
2012 Nominated for Australian of the Year
2012 Gold Medallist – London Paralympic Games – Paracycling – Road Time Trial
2011 Dual Silver Medallist – World Paracycling Championships – Denmark
2011 Minister for Health Volunteer Awards – Commendation
2011-2015 Included in the Who’s Who of Australian Women
2010 Included in the Who’s Who of Australian Women under the category of hope & courage
2009 John Studdy Award, from MS Australia
2008 Included in the Inaugural Who’s Who in Victoria and the Who’s Who of Australian Women
2006 Victorian Masters Sportsperson of the Year Victorian Sports Awards.
2006 Herald Sun Pride of Australia Awards Role Model Category
2003 The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International Named a Paul Harris Fellow
2001 Rotary International Shine on Award – Certificate of Commendation