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Natalie Cook

Go Girl! Australian Natalie Cook clearly does just that. Not content with being a Beach Volleyball achiever at the highest level, no less than an Olympic gold medal, she also writes books. Natalie's motivational book "Go Girl" published in September 2001 is described as "an inspirational tale of courage and audacity". On the cover, Natalie appeals to her readers "Achieve your dreams"; "Unleash your power". This full time Beach professional lives by the credo and it has secured her a place in the Olympic annals. Natalie first started playing beach volleyball in 1993 and turned professional just one year later. She has shared many of her career magic moments with Kerri Pottharst, including three 2001 World Tour podiums and four 4th places. Not bad for a season that could have been an anticlimax after snatching the Olympic gold in front of her home crowd at Bondi Beach, Sydney 2000.

So is there anywhere else to go? What does winning mean to this Olympic champion? "Achieving my goals and influencing and motivating others to do the same", she insists. And the next goal? "The World Champions as the Australians have yet to win a world championship". The challenge doesn't stop, in 2008 there's another Olympic medal up for grabs in Beijing. Natalie still has her best years in front of her but looking ahead past her active sporting life, she would like to be involved in the beach sport she loves. I would like to build beach volleyball in Australia so that it is one of the high profile sports. "I would like to give everyone the opportunity to play our great sport". Go Girl!