Carol Cooke AM PLY

Started riding in 2011, a member of the Australian Paralympic Team in 2012 winning gold in the T2 Mixed gender category of the Road Time Trial. Went on to the World Para Cycling Championships in 2013 becoming dual World Champion for Women T2 category in the Road Race and Time Trial. Was a member of the Athletes Commission for Cycling Australia. Carol was undefeated in 2014 winning both races at the Spain World Cup and then continuing with form at the 2014 World Para Cycling Championships winning both the time trial and the road race. She will finish the year ranked number 1 in the World in the Women's T2 category. In 2015 Carol won the Time Trial at the World Championships and winning the silver medal in the Road Race, again finishing the year ranked #1. She represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics this time winning both the Women's T1-T2 Time Trial and Road Race. In 2017 Carol again won both the Time Trial and Road Race at the World Championships in South Africa and has retained the #1 Ranking in the World for the Women's T2 category. In 2018 Carol lost her world title but brought home Silver in both the Road Race and Time Trial. In 2019 she fought hard to win back her world titles and become #1 in the World once again. In 2020 and the world in turmoil, the Paralympic Games were postponed and in 2021 Carol again made the Australian Paralympic team. She was unable to repeat her 2016 feats but won Silver in the Time Trial, unfortunately then being involved in a crash during the Road Race which left her in hospital with a punctured lung. With a feeling of unfinished business, you never know what will happen in 2024!! Officially retired January 2025. 2024 was a bad year for health, but made it to World Champs in Sept 2024, finishing this career January 11, 2025. Now on to whatever the world throws at me.

An expert in overcoming adversity and change Carol will have your audience members challenging themselves in their own lives using her FORCE Methodology . She has learned to harness the FORCE within herself to find the great in life. To be Fearless, Original, Resilient, Courageous and Embrace the positives in life. From a Police Officer to a 3 time Paralympian, Author Carol Cooke AM PLY has led an amazing life. She believes that if you dare to face your fears and believe in yourself you can accomplish anything! Book Carol for your next conference and you will see the difference she can make to your staff/clients! carol@carolcooke.com.au

Speaking to people from around the world to inspire them and help them overcome Adversity, Change and Move Forward with Momentum

Carol Cooke thought her destiny was decided when she followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, father and mother and joined the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force. An exciting career followed until one case got the better of her and she decided to take a year off. That year off led her down another path and into a world she could never have foreseen for herself. Travelling from one side of the world across to the other and finding love, heartbreak, illness and Paralympic gold. Through the life challenges Cooke faced, and the lessons learned from her family and her own policing career, she was able to move forward with resilience, integrity and compassion. The Force Within is the inspiring story of her courageous adventure.

What would you attempt to do if you knew that you couldn’t fail? Many of us are scared of change or trying something new, fearing we may be unsuccessful, or look silly. Why change what we’re comfortable with? We’re happy with the status quo. But what if your life was thrown into chaos with the diagnosis of a chronic illness? Would you be able to continue? Would you be able to try something new? Or would you grow resigned, and surrender to your fate? In this,my updated book, Finding Your Inner Gold– A Gold Medal Paralympian’s Secrets to Success, I share my secrets to overcoming adversity, accepting change, finding your hidden courage and creating a winning mindset. I truly believe that if you dare to face your fears and believe in yourself you can overcome anything. You can purchase my book through my website at http://carolcooke.com.au/shop/

The 24 Hour Mega Swim is a charity event, founded by Carol in 2001, which raises money for MS Australia and their Go For Gold Scholarship program. This program gives scholarships to people living with Multiple Sclerosis in order that they may follow a dream. The event is now running in the ACT, Victoria, NSW and TAS For a calendar of events go to our website: https://msmegaswim.org.au The 24 Hour Mega Swim has now raised in excess of $11 million for MS.

I am available as a motivational speaker to schools, clubs and corporates. As a person living with MS, running a successful charity event and competeing as an Elite Athlete with a disability, I am happy to come out and speak to your group. I can tailor my speaking to your company or school needs. I can share my secrets to overcoming adversity, accepting change, finding your hidden courage and creating a winning mindset.

Carol is currently an athlete on scholarship at the Victorian Institute of Sport competing as an Elite Athlete with a Disability in the sport of Para-cycling. Carol won Gold at the London Paralympics in 2012 in the Mixed T1-T2 Road Time Trial and was 7th in the Mixed T1-T2 Road Race. At the 2016 Rio Paralympics Carol went one better winning Gold in the Women's T1-T2 Time Trial and Road Race. Since 2013 Carol has become World Champion 7 times, with wins in 4 Time Trials and 3 Road Races. She has finished 2017 ranked number 1 in the World in the Women's T2 category.

Leadership Trainer and Keynote Speaker with Elevate, which represents global elite speakers in leadership, empathy, mindfulness, mental health, diversity/equity/inclusion, innovation, digital transformation, NFT, business skills, and more. https://market.elevate.ac/s?q=Carol+C&lq=&ls=&lc=&boundingbox=&distance_max=