by: Jayita A Belcourt July 5, 2012 10:00pm.
History was in the making as Olympic Gold Medallist and Five Time Olympian Natalie Cook concluded her last ever Olympic beach volleyball training session with coach of 17 years, Steve Anderson, in Brisbane Australia.
“I’ve been going through last ever’s all week,” Cook said. “As an Olympic athlete where it’s all the hard yards, this is the last ever. I’m pretty excited especially after 20 years of putting my blood, sweat tears and bank account on the line, this is the last one,” she said.
The beaming 37 year old, recently qualified for her fifth Olympics after defeating China in the Continental Cup final in China last month.
Cook, who debuted her Olympic career in 1996 in Atlanta, could hardly describe the elation she and partner, Tamsin Himchley, felt knowing their place for London 2012 had been secured.
“I’m so excited all the hard work has paid off and it’s coming to the end,” Cook said. “It was more of a pure explosion of emotional release, joy and even sadness. When you know you’ve made the spot, Tam and I cried like babies for about 10 minutes.”
Whilst in high spirits today, Cook is acutely aware that the journey to London 2012 hasn’t been easy. Finding herself without a partner in 2010, Cook admitted she struggled at times to keep her fifth Olympic dreams alive.
“After Beijing it was really a test of whether I wanted to keep going,” Cook said.
“Every day of my life living in excellence, is tiring.”
“The first year back my body was just starting to understand what level it had to be at and it wasn’t happy about that. It took a good year and half to feel like a professional athlete again.”
“2010 wasn’t a good year, we didn’t really perform well.”
Cook and partner, Hinchley, aged 32, competed together in the Beijing 2008 Olympics where they finished 5th. The pair reunited in 2010 and split the same year.
“At that point I knew what I wanted but I didn’t know how. I figured if I just walked the line, I’d get out the other side.”
Cook paired up briefly with former Australian Indoor Volleyball captain, Tara West, before resuming forces with Hinchley in July 2011.
Hinchley, a former Australian indoor player, will be embarking on her third Olympics. The pair is hoping to improve on their performance from Beijing and believe a medal winning display is definitely within reach.
“We are absolutely going for gold,” Cook said.
Cook is not only representing Australia at her fifth Olympics, she is a very strong contender to carry the flag at the opening ceremony.
“It would be the biggest honour in the world to lead the Australian Olympic team into the London opening ceremony stadium.”
“I’ve walked behind four men in my four Olympics, I definitely think it has to be a female.”
“Leisel Jones, this is her fourth Olympics in swimming. Anna Meares, she’s won lots of Gold Medals.” “Those two are in contention as well.”
“I would hope as my fifth Olympic games and as a Gold Medallist and Bronze Medallist that I’ve got a good chance.”
Cook, a firm believer in the power of active imagination, has been regularly “practising” the flag march for the opening ceremony.
“I practise every day after I finish training,” Cook said.
“I’ve got my flag there and I’ll do a lap.” she said. “Make sure I’m ready and I’m prepared.”
Australia’s Olympic flag bearer will be announced on 26 July, the eve of the opening Ceremony. |
