Episode 15: Carol Cooke speaks with Donna Campisi

Ready! Set! Goal! with Donna Campisi

Carol was born and bred in Toronto where she fulfilled a life-long dream of following in the footsteps of her family, and served as a member of the Toronto Police Force,

leading an exciting life as a Police Officer in Canada where she

worked undercover in the drug squad for 4 years.

But life was about to change dramatically.

Carol fell in love with an Australian, married and moved half way around the world and settled in Melbourne.

After competing in Hobart at the Masters Swimming Nationals in 1998, she awoke one morning with disturbing balance problems and double vision, symptoms of multiple sclerosis. After an array of tests, she was bluntly told at the age of thirty-six "You have MS. Go home and get your affairs in order before you become incapacitated."

Devastated and having only been married for three years and no immediate family around, her thoughts revolved around how she was going to cope with this disease.

Fortunately, Carol found the determination and spirit to defy what this doctor had told her.

As a swimmer, rower and cyclist Carol has proved her versatility in sport over the last 48 years and now at an age where most people are thinking of retirement Carol continues to race at an elite international level.

Carol is an inspiration to everyone she meets including me.

In 2011 Carol took up Para Cycling and has gone on to win 3 Gold Medals at two Paralympic Games.

She has won 9 World Championships and continues to compete internationally.

She is also the founder of the MS 24 Hour Mega Swim in 2001, which is one of the fastest growing fundraising events in Australia and has raised over 10 million dollars which provides scholarships to people living with Multiple Sclerosis to follow a dream.

Carol was named in the 2014 Australia Day Honours List being named a Member of the order of Australia (AM). She received this award in recognition of her significant service to sport as a gold medalist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and for fundraising and representational roles with charitable healthcare organisations.

In 2015 Carol became an author of her book ‘Finding Your Inner Gold.’

Carol believes that, nothing is impossible if we dare to face our fears and believe in ourselves.
Carol’s Awards:

2018 Victorian Female Para Cyclist of the Year

2017 Award of Excellence - Victorian Institute of Sport

2017 Masters Sportsperson of the Year - Vic Disability Sport and Recreation

2016 Female Sports persons of the Year & Masters Sportsperson of the year - Vic Disability Sport and Recreation

2016 Rio Paralympics - 2 Gold Medals - Road Race and Time Trial - Para Cycling

2015 Victorian Finalist - Australian of the Year

2015 Gold and Silver-World Para Cycling Championships

2014 Order of Australia - A Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

2013/14/17/19 Dual World Champion – World Para Cycling Championships

2013/15/16/17 Australian Female Para Cyclist of the Year

2013/16 - Victorian Cyclist of the Year

Read more of Episode 15 show notes at https://donnacampisi.com/ready-set-goal/

You can contact Carol, and purchase her book at: http://carolcooke.com.au/

MS 24 Hour Mega Swim can be found at: https://www.msmegaswim.org.au/

Listen to more ‘Ready! Set! Goal! with Donna Campisi’ podcast at: https://donnacampisi.com/ready-set-goal/

To contact Donna Campisi to speak at your next event, go to: