Jacqui Cooper's Biography
Jacqui Cooper has
represented Australia in the sport of Aerial Skiing for 20 years. Her career
started in 1989 at Mt Buller when she was recruited by Geoff Lipshut (CEO of
the OWIA) to join the Techne Team. Within three years she was already
representing her country at the World Championships in Lake Placid New York; by
1994 she competed at the Lillehammer Winter Olympics. In 1999, just ten years
after starting her sport she became a World Champion; the next ten years would
see her dominate and revolutionise her sport.
In a very long and
decorated career she has competed in 139 World Cup Events, nine World
Championships and been selected to five Winter Olympic Teams. When Jacqui
competed in Vancouver in February 2010 she became the first Australian woman in
history (summer or winter Olympics) to represent Australia at five Games.
Her record five
world titles, 39 World Cup medals, 24 World Cup wins and three major World
Championship medals has left Jacqui as the greatest Aerial skier of all time
(man or woman); an achievement that will go unbeaten for decades.
Her sport is
unforgiving; she has had knee, elbow, shoulder and hip reconstructions. In 2001
she broke her back in an attempt to win a record 3rd World Title; she went on
and won it. In 2002 at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics she injured her knee
and broke her leg just two days before the Olympic competition ending years of
dreaming, willing and wanting.
In 2010, Jacqui
competed in Vancouver after a year of intense hip and knee rehabilitation; she
shocked doctors and surgeons by her will, inner strength and courage to make a
brave attempt to be competitive at those games. She spent most of the months
leading into the Olympics in a wheel chair, learning to walk again, and gaining
confidence in a sport that is brutal and cruel. She stunned her rivals,
coaches, and team mates when she came fifth; her best Olympic result in the 20
years.
"Jacqui
Cooper is a true legend. She did not win a medal, but her performance in
finishing 5th in the women’s freestyle aerial event epitomised all that is so
great about Australian sport." – Matt Miller, CEO Australian Sports Commission
In between
training and competing in events Jacqui devotes much of her time to various
Sporting Committees around the world making sure she can be a voice for her
peers at a National and International level. Over two decades she has spent
time on the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) Board, the AOC Athlete's
Commission (Deputy Chair), Ski and Snowboard Australia Board, the Australian
Institute of Sport Athletes Commission, the International Ski Federation (FIS)
Athletes Committee, the FIS Freestyle Athletes Committee, the World Anti-Doping
Agency (WADA) Athlete's Committee and the WADA education committee.
In 2001 the AOC
involved Jacqui in their national Drug Education program as a key presenter,
her interest, knowledge and passion for clean sport made her a wonderful asset
to that program. She lectured kids in schools, state sporting institutes,
regional sporting academies, national federations, international athletes
competing at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and athletes at Australian
Institute of Sport.
Jacqui's passion
is education; the education of children and teenagers about living a healthy
lifestyle, making smart choices, nutrition, being young role models, dreaming
BIG, being active and goal setting. Jacqui speaks to primary, secondary, and
university/TAFE students. She has also travelled to remote aboriginal
communities as far as Darwin and beyond, promoting all things healthy with a
heavy focus on "SAY NO" to alcohol, petrol sniffing and smoking.
Over 20 years
Jacqui has won many awards in recognition for her achievements in sport and for
her involvement in the community. During her career she was honoured as the
Victorian Young Australian of the Year for Sport, Victorian Sports Woman of the
year and Ski and Snowboard Athlete of the year. Her most recent award was the
Governor's Award, presented to her at the Victorian Sports Awards in 2008 for being
a role model, a champion, and a woman who is successful in sport and life.
Jacqui's story is
one of self-belief, passion, triumph, tragedy and the ability to overcome
adversity.
WORLD TITLES
2008 World Cup Champion –
Aerials
2007 World Cup Champion –
Aerials
2001 World Cup Overall Champion – Freestyle Skiing
World Cup Champion – Aerials
2000 World Cup Overall Champion – Freestyle
Skiing
World Cup Champion – Aerials
1999 World Champion – Aerials
World Cup Overall Champion –
Freestyle Skiing
World Cup Champion – Aerials
OLYMPIC TEAMS
2010 Vancouver, Canada
2006 Torino, Italy
2002 Salt Lake City, USA
1998 Nagano, Japan
1994 Lillehammer, Norway
AWARDS
2008 Australian Snow Sports
Athlete of the Year
Governor's Award – Victorian
Female of the Year
Victorian Institute of Sport
Spirit Award
Freestyle Skier of the Year
2007 Special Achievement
Australian Snow Sports Award
2001 Special Achievement
Australian Snow Sports Award
2000 Australian Skier of the
Year
2000 Australian Snow Sports
Athlete of the Year
Victorian Sports Woman of the
Year
Freestyle Skier of the Year
1999 Victorian (Sport) –- Young Australian of the Year
Australian Snow Sports Athlete
of the Year
Freestyle Skier of the Year
1998 Freestyle Skier of the Year
Special Achievement Australian
Snow Sports Award
1997 Special Achievement Australian Snow Sports Award