1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: Nat Cook is an Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball. 2 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: She became the first Australian woman to compete at five 3 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: Olympic Games in her sport. When beach volleyball made its 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: Olympic debut in nineteen ninety six, Nat and her playing 5 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 1: partner Kerry Potthass claimed bronze, but the Dynamic duo are 6 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: best known for winning gold at Sydney two thousand on 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: the sands of Bondai Beach and beating the number one 8 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: ranked Brazilians to get there, but her passion for the 9 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: Olympic Games has kept burning long after her retirement. Nap 10 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: is the founder of the Ossie Athlete Fund, a body 11 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: designed to help young athletes pursue their Olympic dreams without 12 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: financial burden. She's also a director of the twenty thirty 13 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: two Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, helping to create 14 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: a lasting legacy for Ossie athletes like herself. My name's 15 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,639 Speaker 1: Sophie and I'm the producer here at the Female Athlete Project. 16 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 2: Chloe caught up with. 17 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: Nat just before the Paris opening ceremony kicked off as 18 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,199 Speaker 1: she sat in her hotel room just meet us away 19 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: from the Eiffel Tower, and we're not jealous at all. 20 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: This chat is dynamic and full of what is an 21 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: undeniable amount of passion for the Olympic Games and unwavering 22 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: belief in our Aussie athletes. We hope you enjoy it 23 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: and gets you in the Olympic spirit if you're not 24 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: there already. 25 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 3: Nat Cork, Welcome to The Female Athlete Project. 26 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 2: Wow, what an honor, Chloe. Not only to be with you, 27 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 2: who epic legend. If I could high five you from Paris, 28 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 2: I would, but to be on this show. I've watched 29 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 2: the Female Athlete Project and its growth and what you 30 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 2: do for women's sport epic. So thank you. Thanks for 31 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 2: having me. What and honor that. 32 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 3: Really means a lot. Thank you. And we've crossed pass 33 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 3: a number of times, so it's really cool to actually 34 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 3: get the opportunity to chat with you. The fate that 35 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 3: we're chatting with you while you are over in Paris 36 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 3: off ere you were talking about where you were staying 37 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 3: at the moment. Can you tell us a little bit 38 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 3: about the setup. 39 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: Well, I'm really close fortunately to the Eiffel Tower, not 40 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,239 Speaker 2: quite as close as the beach Volleyball Stadium, which is 41 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,119 Speaker 2: sitting in the shadows of the tower, which I'm sure 42 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: you've seen the Airpiic pictures. I can't wait to watch 43 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,399 Speaker 2: the athletes perform in front of that iconic location. Of course, 44 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 2: the Olympic rings are situated on the tower, so I 45 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: think Beach Volleyball has the best spot. I might be biased, 46 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: and I'm not far from that. I can walk to 47 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 2: the Eiffel Tower, I can walk to the Beach Volleyball. 48 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: I'm ten minutes and staying in an apartment here. But 49 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 2: what's interesting and what we're talking about is it's quite 50 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 2: eerie because I've never seen it so quiet. And the 51 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: reason it's quiet is because of the security getting ready 52 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 2: for the opening ceremony for Friday night, and obviously, as 53 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 2: you know, there's six kilometers of river where the athletes 54 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 2: will come on boats and it's going to be I've 55 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: got a riverside ticket with my daughter Joan and my 56 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 2: wife Sarah, so we've spent it's like actually going to 57 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 2: an Olympics as a spectator. It's very different to being 58 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 2: an athlete. Athlete focused, you're just in there. You get 59 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: on the bus, it takes you right there, you per form, 60 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: But as an athlete, it's like a big orienteering competition. 61 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 2: It's like how do you get to where you need 62 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: to go? Sometimes you got a detour and so this 63 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm my Now I'm saying boy scouts, 64 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 2: because back in my day that's all there was boy 65 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 2: scouts and then girl guides. I feel like I'm a 66 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 2: girl guide trying to get to all of the Olympic venues. 67 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: But the Eiffel Tower is a lockdown area, it's a 68 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: safe zone, and therefore until Friday night, the closing of 69 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 2: the opening ceremony, it's not many people here, but then 70 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 2: they are expecting eleven million to flood in to Paris 71 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 2: to be watching the Olympic Games. 72 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 3: So pretty special, how iconic. I have to ask as well, 73 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 3: you touched on the river siend. Have you gone for 74 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 3: a dip yet? 75 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: Well, they won't let me. I think I'd be pulled out, 76 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 2: like you know, I now know. You know you're in 77 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 2: AFL and they don't let streakers on the field. So 78 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 2: I'm sure i'd make international news as a streaker trying 79 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 2: to swim in the scene. But it actually looks really clean. 80 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 2: The streets are clean, the place looks amazing. It is 81 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 2: absolutely the best time to be in Paris for an Olympics. 82 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: It's colorful, it's vibrant, and when you go outside of 83 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: those safe zones right now there are people everywhere, but 84 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: I feel pretty happy to be kind of by myself 85 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 2: under the Eiffel Tower. 86 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 3: It's very special. Let's reflect on your career, I just 87 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 3: because obviously that Sydney two thousand moment is so iconic. 88 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 3: But prepping for the episode, I think sometimes, like even 89 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 3: seeing that you're a five time Olympian like you had 90 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 3: such an incredible career, can we go back to pre 91 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 3: ninety six Olympics and what the prep for that was 92 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 3: like for you as a beach volleyball player. 93 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 2: Well, so long ago, now, Choie, so long ago that 94 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: you can't even do the math to get back to 95 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 2: ninety six. But if I go to ninety four where 96 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 2: my career first started, which is a thirty year span. 97 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 2: In nineteen ninety four was the time where I switched 98 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 2: from indoor volleyball to beach because it had been announced 99 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: as an Olympic sport for the very first time. So 100 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 2: I feel a pioneer of the sport, as you with 101 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 2: women's rugby sevens. Winning the first gold medal was very 102 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 2: special and I still have goosebumps for you. I mean, 103 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 2: I am absolutely an Olympic junkie and I love every 104 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 2: single sport because I started as a kid at high 105 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 2: school playing every sport looking for the sport I was 106 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 2: going to go and represent Australia in the Green and 107 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: Gold in and I thought it'd be swimming, and it 108 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: ended up I got sick of the chlorine, the black line, 109 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: eating my corn flex at the pool with milk and chlorine, 110 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 2: and I decided there's got to be a better sport. Sorry, swimmers, 111 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 2: no offense. But I tried every sport and then there 112 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 2: was a notice on the school notice board that said 113 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 2: volleyball trip to Canada and America. And I was a 114 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: Grade nine Corinda High student and I thought, I want 115 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 2: to go to Disneyland. Yes, and volleyball happened to be 116 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 2: my vehicle. I went and played volleyball. I thought this 117 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 2: is awesome. And I know we don't have too much 118 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: time because you've asked about thirty years ago. But the 119 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 2: reason I love volleyball over every other sport I did 120 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 2: from taekwondo to BMX to skateboarding to golf, to tennis, 121 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 2: to basketball, track and field. I literally did everything. I 122 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 2: even played Vigoro. For those listeners that don't know what 123 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: Vigero is, go and google Figaros with girls cricket because 124 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 2: we weren't alt out to play cricket as a girl, 125 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 2: so I tried to dress up as a boy. I 126 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: mean I still do sometimes to get in boys cricket. 127 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 2: And you know, some kid outed me, she's a girl. 128 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 2: Get her off. So I went to play bigger o. 129 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 2: But all of that is why eventually my volleyball was 130 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 2: back to my So my volleyball, it was the only 131 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 2: sport that I couldn't play. Now. I don't say that 132 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 2: to to sort of egotistically, it curiosity, curiosity of how 133 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 2: to play that sport. When I went to bed at night, 134 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 2: I couldn't stop thinking about why everyone playing volleyball was 135 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 2: so bad, and why you try to get the ball 136 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: to go in one direction over the net. It's a 137 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 2: good start and it would go left or right. And 138 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 2: so I started to think about why is this so 139 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: difficult to rebound sport? And Team six of us trying 140 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: to do good, we couldn't. If you could serve and 141 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: get the ball over the net you'd often win a point. 142 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 2: So I wasn't good at it. Nobody was good at it, 143 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 2: and that's why I decided to spend my life mastering 144 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 2: the sport of volleyball, which is sometimes the opposite of 145 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 2: what most people do. They're either good at it or 146 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 2: they love it, and that was neither for me. It 147 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 2: was how to get better at this sport no one 148 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 2: could do, so that's why I started. And then once 149 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: it became an Olympic sport, I got a call up 150 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: from the best beach volleyballer in the country. Now there 151 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: were only two, and they decided to split up and 152 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 2: choose a taller athlete each for the quest of Olympic glory. 153 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: And a whole other story about how Kerry and I 154 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 2: got together, because that's a different part. And Kerry and 155 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 2: I went to our first Olympic Games in nineteen ninety 156 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 2: six in Atlanta. 157 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 3: And you finish those games with a bronze medal, How 158 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 3: did it feel presenting your country in Atlanta and having 159 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 3: a medal put around your neck? 160 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: Well, I got a better story than that, because I'm 161 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 2: the first ever athlete to receive an Olympic medal for 162 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 2: beach volleyball because they gave out the bronze medal first, 163 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 2: and they gave mine out first, and I gave the 164 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 2: women's out first, so Carrie got the second. That she 165 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 2: hates it when I tell that story. 166 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,439 Speaker 3: I imagine you've told that story many times. 167 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 2: I do. I feel winning is important. It's an actually, Chloe, 168 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 2: winning is important, and it's not about the score all 169 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 2: the time. It's actually a mindset. It's up here. Winning's 170 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 2: up here between your ears, and so I always find 171 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 2: a way to win, which drives my family and friends 172 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 2: and Kerry Batty because they I have a DNA or 173 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 2: like a missile homing device for winning. And whether it's 174 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 2: getting first to the Eiffel Tower to get in and 175 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 2: give my eat, or whether it's getting first to the 176 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 2: river to get my best spot. I do have a 177 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: bit of an obsession with winning. I don't know if 178 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 2: you still do that. 179 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, I'm very very competitive. It's funny when you 180 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 3: talked about swimming earlier. Again, no insult to swimmers, but 181 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 3: you don't seem like a stere at a black line 182 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 3: kind of person to me. 183 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 2: You just well, That's why I'd often find myself turning 184 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 2: from freestyle into backstroke to find the shiny thing that 185 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 2: went around the corner right and I'd do my tumble 186 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 2: turn in freestyle, come out backstroke because I'd rather look 187 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 2: at the sky and the coach would just lose it. 188 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: But I won the under eight fifty meter breaststroke title 189 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 2: for Queensland and that's my claim to fame. 190 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 3: That's it's above the Olympic medals. 191 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 2: Totally above. I think it's my first ever medal. And 192 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 2: it was a badge. It was a pin, you know 193 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 2: when we used to win ribbons and then this is 194 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 2: when it elevates to a badge. And I got a 195 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 2: little blue queue badge. And I came home to see 196 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:09,319 Speaker 2: my mom. She said, where's your metal? I said, here 197 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 2: it is. I'm a chest. So yeah, those are the memories, Chloe, 198 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:20,239 Speaker 2: that helped the foundation for us to be to be athletes. 199 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 2: And when I've got an eight year old now and 200 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 2: I know she's not don't tell her not Olympic material 201 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:28,559 Speaker 2: just yet, right. 202 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 3: So oh yeah, okay, I thought you'd like really decided 203 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:32,319 Speaker 3: she was never going to get there. 204 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 2: No, she's loving a tennis. She's doing greater tennis because 205 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 2: that's what we see on the TV all the time too. 206 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 2: She doesn't want to play beach volleyball like mum. So 207 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 2: that's okay. That's probably because I beat her all the time. 208 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 2: But it's all good. 209 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 3: I need to compose myself for this part of the story. 210 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 3: Sydney two thousand. So we actually you talked about our 211 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 3: success as Izie Seven's teen in Rio twenty sixteen, but 212 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 3: we actually heard about what you and Kerry did in 213 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:08,199 Speaker 3: the lead up to Sydney two thousand, and we adopted 214 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 3: a few of those strategies because we wanted to learn 215 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 3: from successful people like you. Can you talk through what 216 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 3: that process was like? You came you were together obviously 217 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 3: in Atlanta, you split as partners, but came back together 218 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 3: about a year out from Sydney two thousand. Is that correct? 219 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's correct. Once, when you come third at the 220 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 2: Olympics and you have to wait four years for your 221 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 2: next go, you put all Karen and I put all 222 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 2: these plans together, and you expect to go from third 223 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 2: to second and second to first, and I think we 224 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 2: went from third to seventeenth and we weren't real happy. 225 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 2: So when there's only two of you, it's quite a 226 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 2: compact environment, there's no substitutions. So if I get hurt, 227 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 2: Kerry has to go and find a new partner and 228 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 2: try and set up a new team. And the coach 229 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 2: can't actually coach from the sideline. So in beach volleyball 230 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 2: you're not allowed external input from anybody, and still to 231 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 2: this day there have been they've been trying to change 232 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 2: it so the coach could interject and talk in timeouts. 233 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 2: It's a bit like tennis. We're not allowed to and 234 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 2: so it was quite intense when we weren't going up 235 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 2: and the results were going down, and there's only focus 236 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 2: on two of you. So it was either my fault 237 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 2: or Carey's fault, and I'll let you work out whose 238 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 2: fault that would be. But as humans, we feel better 239 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 2: when we blame somebody else. So high performance sport is 240 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: actually really about self reflection and reviewing your own performance 241 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,199 Speaker 2: and reviewing how that fits into the team and having 242 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 2: a third party look at that. So when we put 243 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 2: all that together, we decided it was better if we 244 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 2: split up, and we did for a little while until 245 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 2: we realized we were a better team together. We just 246 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,199 Speaker 2: needed to get our purpose aligned. We needed to get 247 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 2: on the same page and understand each other's differences, which 248 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 2: I think we do her in the world today, celebrating 249 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 2: our differences and our uniqueness instead of trying to change 250 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 2: each other to be like ourselves. Ultimately, Kerry and I 251 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 2: were the best because we complimented each other and we 252 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 2: had different personalities and different styles. She was the best 253 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 2: server in the world. She was the fastest and hardest. 254 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 2: She was the best spiker in the world. And I 255 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 2: was the strategist and the precision, so I could put 256 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 2: it on a fifty cent piece, not that we have 257 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 2: fifty cent pieces much anymore, but if you imagine a 258 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: small dot in the sand pit, I could put it 259 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 2: there with my eyes closed, whereas Kerrie would blast a 260 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 2: hole in you within five meters radius because she was 261 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 2: so powerful. Now, when I tried to be like her 262 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 2: and hit it hard, it didn't work for me. So 263 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 2: it's important. And as you said, you took on a 264 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 2: few of our strategies. We have lots of strategies. It's 265 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 2: important for each athlete to work out which ones work 266 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 2: for them. So when I spoke to the rugby sevens girl, 267 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 2: I think we came and talked to you about and 268 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 2: you might have been in that squad we talked about. 269 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 2: The biggest and probably most notable one is surrounding ourselves 270 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 2: with gold. 271 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 3: That's what it was. 272 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 2: And if you want, yeah, if you want something in 273 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 2: your life, you've got to put it everywhere projected, start 274 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 2: to live into the idea of what you're going for. 275 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 2: And gold a gold medal isn't just about the shiny trinket. 276 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 2: It's about the whole golden journey along the way. So 277 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 2: as a symbol of that, I slept in gold sheets, 278 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: I had gold shoes, gold sunglasses, gold ug boots, gold car, 279 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 2: gold watch, and I even washed in pamelive gold soap. 280 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: And we've seen the national anthem. I still do actually, 281 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 2: because it's now a memory rather than a projection. Pamela 282 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 2: gold fifty cents from chemist Warehouse, real easy, and you 283 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 2: wash yourself in that and sing Advance Australia Fair. We 284 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 2: could both do it, Chloe be good, not together. 285 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 3: If we're not on our podcast, but I mean that 286 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 3: fifty cents with inflation, it's probably a good way to go. 287 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 2: Yes, exactly, by lots, and then keep it. Keep the 288 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 2: gold bars in your suitcase under the bed, like my 289 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 2: nanny used to do. I love that times have changed obviously, 290 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 2: but I just I just fine with technology now you're not. 291 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 2: People aren't seeing enough of the goals and the visions. 292 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 2: We used to have vision boards. You should have vision walls, 293 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 2: get wallpaper with where you want to go in life. 294 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 2: And if it's not sports specifically or results, if you're 295 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: an afl umpire, if you're a pickleball player and want 296 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 2: to own a team, coach a team, you've got to 297 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: have all of these visions around you all the time, 298 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 2: not just you know, once on your phone when you 299 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 2: click your pictures. So we would surround ourselves with everything 300 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: that was gold, and it just kept us focused on 301 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 2: what we were trying to do. 302 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was quite incredible to learn from the two 303 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 3: of you and your success. And as you said, you 304 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 3: can't copy and paste it, we kind of took parts 305 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 3: of it and for us. So we went into Rio 306 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 3: and twenty sixteen as world champion, so we were the 307 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:34,199 Speaker 3: favorites and we felt the pressure of that. But off 308 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 3: the back of listening to the two of you, we 309 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 3: made a really conscious decision as a team to use 310 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 3: gold in our language a lot of the time. So 311 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 3: we talked about the fact that we were going there 312 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 3: to win a gold medal. We weren't going to win 313 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 3: any other color medal. We kind of embrace the fact 314 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:50,959 Speaker 3: that we wanted to be the gold medal favorites and 315 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 3: that's what we were setting out to do. So it 316 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 3: was quite quite an incredible opportunity and pretty special to 317 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 3: kind of sit today and chat to you about that moment, 318 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 3: because I think, even looking back, I remember putting I 319 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 3: don't know if it would have been yours or Kerry's 320 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 3: gold medal wearing it, but this is pre Rio and 321 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:14,439 Speaker 3: thinking like, surely, surely we can't, like I'm not going 322 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 3: to have my own one of these, And to think 323 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 3: now they've got one that sits in the drawer that 324 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 3: I can pull out and put on whenever I want, 325 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 3: Like it's a mind like do you still feel mind 326 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 3: blowing that you have an Olympic gold medal? 327 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 2: Absolutely? Absolutely exactly like you? And I pretty much take 328 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 2: mine everywhere I go because I run into somebody that 329 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 2: says I saw you, I was there, What does that 330 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 2: feel like? And I'll just pull it out of my 331 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 2: pocket like a party trick, and I'll go here. You 332 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 2: tell me what it feels like, and. 333 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 3: And so you seriously like have it in your pocket. Yeah, 334 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:48,199 Speaker 3: because it's neat to start doing that. You do because no, 335 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:49,880 Speaker 3: how many are there, Chloe? 336 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 2: How many? There were sixteen gold medals of the money 337 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 2: by Australians in Sydney. In Rio there were less. I'm 338 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 2: sure it was like fourteen. So you have one fourteen 339 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,119 Speaker 2: Olympic gold medals from rear. How many people would have 340 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 2: seen that? So not enough? Put it in your AFL backpack. 341 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 2: Actually wear it under your AFL jersey. And just because 342 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 2: yours are so much bigger than ours with inflation that 343 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,400 Speaker 2: will hit you in the chin knock your teeth out 344 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 2: to make sure. Make sure it's under your jersey because 345 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 2: otherwise it could you know, I could you consume me 346 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 2: for damaging your beautiful teeth. 347 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,880 Speaker 3: We don't want that to happen. Oh funny, I need 348 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 3: to I'm going to take that on board. I reckon. 349 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 3: I need to get it out because it's it's quite 350 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 3: a beautiful thing. Like one of my favorite things and 351 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 3: I imagine you're similar, is particularly taken into schools and 352 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:46,159 Speaker 3: just seeing little kids try the metal on and that 353 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 3: that moment of wonder and that dreaming that they have 354 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 3: when they try something like that, I'm like, could I 355 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 3: could I do this myself? 356 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 2: Yeah? That and their eyes, the look in their eyes 357 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 2: and they all try and g abbot like a seagull 358 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 2: with a chip and it's the cutest little thing. And 359 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 2: I guarantee that the more we keep doing that and 360 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 2: we are. The Australia Olympic Committee have an amazing program 361 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 2: called Olympics Unleashed and the Paralympics have a program where 362 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 2: they go into schools as well. And with Brisbane twenty 363 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 2: thirty two coming in eight years, we have stirred the 364 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 2: hopes and dreams of the whole of Australia for the 365 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 2: young athletes to want to be athletes. But there are 366 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 2: so many other ways to be a part of the 367 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:36,479 Speaker 2: Olympics and Paralympics, whether it's a volunteer spectator, a driver 368 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 2: of athletes and you never know who you could get 369 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 2: in the car. I'm sure there's people all over the 370 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 2: world saying I drove you sin Bolt or I drove 371 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 2: Muhammad Alida like the Cauldron in nineteen ninety six, and 372 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 2: they're still telling those stories. So you can work in it. 373 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 2: You can be a physio, you can be a sports scientist. 374 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 2: There are so many ways to be involved in the 375 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 2: Olympic Games in Brisbane and the Paralympic Games. I if 376 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 2: you're not an athlete, dream about how you're going to 377 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,440 Speaker 2: get to Brisbane for twenty thirty two because it will 378 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 2: be super special and I'm excited for this next generation 379 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 2: of athletes that gets all of these new adjustments to 380 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 2: the games, like they're here in Paris. There's a medal walkway, 381 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 2: so after you win your medal, you can come and 382 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 2: strut your medal along the I wish I knew where 383 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 2: it was. I've got overload of all these Olympic venues, 384 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 2: but it's a Champion's Way, right, so you can come 385 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,119 Speaker 2: and see all of the people, and all your family 386 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 2: and friends can come there and you get celebrated again 387 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 2: at the champions Way. So there's so many new cool 388 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 2: things coming and I'm super excited for what we might 389 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 2: do in Brisbane. 390 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'd love to touch on your role in your 391 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 3: involvement in Brisbane twenty thirty two. But before we get 392 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 3: to that, can you just can you take us back 393 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,959 Speaker 3: to that moment walking out onto Bondo Beach, Sydney two 394 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 3: thousand for that gold medal match. 395 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, for me, it feels like yesterday. It was Bondi 396 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 2: Beach and the greatest iconic beach in the world. The 397 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 2: Brazilians try and argue that Copa Kamana is, but we 398 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:21,159 Speaker 2: you know, we won, and so we're beach volleyball. Bondo 399 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 2: Beach is now the greatest. We've got our athletes here 400 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 2: at the Eiffel Tower thinking Eiffel Tower Beach is the 401 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 2: greatest beach. No. No, Bondeau was a real beach. So 402 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 2: the stadium was set. There were ten thousand people. We 403 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,480 Speaker 2: came underneath the tunnels at the pavilion, so if you 404 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 2: walked on the pavilion there and on the walkway, the 405 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 2: way we got into the venue was under the tunnels 406 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 2: and under the stadium, which has never happened before. Usually 407 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 2: there's a sort of a side entrance, but we were 408 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,959 Speaker 2: under the grandstands where people were banging their feet and 409 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 2: cheering because of the music. We had Bondai Dave doing 410 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 2: the wave and getting everybody ready, so we were getting 411 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: almost sand in our faces as we hid under the stadium. 412 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 2: And we came in from the northern corner of Bondai 413 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 2: and they said and welcome to the Olympic gold medal match, 414 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 2: Natalie Cook and carry pot Us and as we came 415 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:23,640 Speaker 2: out like I've still got goosebumps, the place erupted. I've 416 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 2: never played in front of that many people. I've never 417 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 2: played in front of that many people that are Aussies 418 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 2: because usually they're foreign when you're overseas and you might 419 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 2: find three Aussies that yell out in an Aussie accent. 420 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 2: But to feel that literally do we get asked a lot? 421 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 2: Does it lift you? Does it help you? And we'd 422 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:45,640 Speaker 2: created a story through our preparation where it lifted us. 423 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 2: We floated in there. We just knew we had a 424 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 2: five point head start. Not that the scoreboard reflected that, 425 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 2: because that's not how the score went, but we felt 426 00:23:55,000 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 2: like we had a head start. The Aussie chant, the famoussi. 427 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:04,719 Speaker 4: Oh God, Chloe, I was waiting, I was seeing if 428 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 4: you train a famous chance started And so the first 429 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 4: you know, you stand there in your bikini and your 430 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:14,640 Speaker 4: hat and there's billion. 431 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:17,479 Speaker 2: People watching because volleyball is quite a big sport in 432 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 2: Europe and Asia and South and we're playing South America, 433 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 2: so they've got lots of people watching. And they'd actually 434 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 2: changed the rules six months before about the service. If 435 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 2: you remember ever playing volleyball back in our day, the 436 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 2: serve when I hit the net was a fault like tennis. 437 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,880 Speaker 2: For the Olympics, they changed it for the Sydney Olympics, 438 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 2: they changed it to make it a live ball. So 439 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 2: that was one thing. The other thing for the final 440 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 2: is they changed the scoring. Instead of one set to fifteen, 441 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 2: they made it two sets to twelve, and so all 442 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 2: of us are well best of three. We won in two. 443 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 2: We had to change. We'd never trained for that. Really, 444 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 2: it was quite difficult to train for that, and so 445 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 2: all of a sudden we're in a brand new environment. 446 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 2: And that's what high performance sport is about. How do 447 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 2: you adapt? How do you focus on the next point, 448 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 2: how do you move through the disappointment of the last point? 449 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 2: Like if you someone scores a try on you guys, 450 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 2: and then what do you do next? It's like straight 451 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 2: back to the center line. Let's keep going, even with 452 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 2: ten seconds to go. So we got out there in 453 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 2: front of Brazil. Brazil was supposed to win. We'd played 454 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 2: them seventeen times and only beaten them once. Those arts 455 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 2: are pretty bad, but wow, we weren't looking backwards. We 456 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 2: were looking into our projected future, which was we were 457 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 2: going to win this thing. Remember we'd surrounded ourselves with gold. 458 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 2: We've done all of the hard work off the court, 459 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 2: on the court, in our relationship. Our strategy was solid. 460 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 2: Here's strategy you ready. The Brazilian team, there's a bit 461 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 2: of culture and history that you sort of have to 462 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:10,719 Speaker 2: understand to know why this works. But their only gold 463 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 2: medal they've ever won for Brazil in the Olympics ever, 464 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 2: was in nineteen ninety six in the women's beach volleyball, right, 465 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 2: that was our first ever gold medal. So four years 466 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 2: later the pressure from Brazil is quite high for them 467 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 2: to win again. And remember I said they'd beaten US 468 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 2: sixteen out of seventeen times, so they'd all almost printed 469 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 2: the T shirts, they'd almost written the story. And we 470 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 2: knew all that. The coach said, look, coach, a coach, 471 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 2: Steve Anderson, the best beach volleyball coach in the world. 472 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 2: I had him for four Olympics. He said, here's the plan. 473 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 2: You don't need to know about dig set spike, you 474 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 2: don't need to know about where to put the ball. 475 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,680 Speaker 2: You just need to know that if you hold your 476 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 2: shoulders up and your smile up and your positivity up. 477 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,880 Speaker 2: That at a point in the match, the pressure of 478 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,400 Speaker 2: the nation of Brazil will get on top of them 479 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 2: and they will crack. And when they crack, that's when 480 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 2: you press the accelerator. And this was our headline game plan. Wait, 481 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 2: hold onto the ladder when the storm's coming. Don't try 482 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 2: and climb in the storm and push for points against momentum. 483 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 2: Momentum is a whole other thing. Hold the ladder in 484 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 2: the storm. Now, we were in storms the whole game 485 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 2: because they were ahead of us the whole game, and 486 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 2: we were holding hold even to carry. I'm like, hold 487 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 2: the ladder, hold the ladder. Hold no volleyball talk, hold 488 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 2: the ladder. And then all of a sudden there was 489 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 2: a crack. And here's where the crack happened. My serve 490 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:57,440 Speaker 2: at set point on the first set hit the net 491 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:00,440 Speaker 2: and dribbled over. Could have dribbled back on our side, 492 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 2: it would have been a fault. Dribbled over and they 493 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,399 Speaker 2: couldn't get it. And that's how we won the first set, 494 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 2: the brand new rule of the New Olympics. We held 495 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 2: the ladder. We won the first set. We could see 496 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 2: they were devastated and disappointed, and then our skills and 497 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,879 Speaker 2: technique and will and crowd and everything else just continued 498 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 2: to take over. And I still remember the look on 499 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 2: their face. And the commentator as I watched back as 500 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 2: they got their silver medal, said, so with's crying as 501 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 2: you would because they were supposed to win. They were 502 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 2: crying a lot. And the commentator said, our tears of 503 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 2: joy from the Brazilians, and I said, no, no, they're 504 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 2: not tears of joy. That tears of devastation, because our 505 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 2: plan and our spirit and our posture and our belief 506 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 2: that we'd worked on got us over the line. And 507 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 2: forever to this day, I remember the sand between my toes, 508 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 2: the wind against my back, Harry serv calling the last 509 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 2: point for her, and yet it'll go with us together forever. 510 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 3: It's like I just had goosebumps as you tell that story, 511 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 3: Like you talked about being like a real Olympics Finati, 512 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 3: Like that story is quite incredible. It's kind of that 513 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 3: feeling of like the animere's Victoria Pendleton, London, twenty twelve. 514 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 3: You know that strategy piece that goes behind this success. 515 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 3: It's quite it's just quite incredible. 516 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I've watched Anna tour that amazing hold on 517 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 2: the track. But what's behind it is so incredible of 518 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 2: why that makes Victoria feel uneasy? Right, And so what 519 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,880 Speaker 2: some of the techniques and game and the skills we 520 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 2: would use would make some teams happy and they would 521 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 2: kill us and other teams would put them under pressure. 522 00:29:54,000 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 2: Understanding the psychological, the cultural, the environment as well as 523 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 2: which is why the big moments in sport are so big, 524 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 2: because all of that adds up to the cherry on 525 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 2: top and the last point for us, Kerry went back 526 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 2: to serve. It was gold medal point and I'm standing 527 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 2: at the net and we give her a symbol. Now 528 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 2: we're famous for symbols behind our back because it's on 529 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 2: our bum. Lots of people like to focus on a bum. 530 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 2: They said, oh, your signals are good. I said, you're 531 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 2: not looking at the signals. The signals are numbers on 532 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 2: where to serve, and every team has a different one. 533 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 2: We used to have very generic ones and everyone did 534 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 2: the same and so there was a specific one for 535 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 2: Kerry and I that was a thumbs up, which was 536 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 2: like a stick of dynamite, which was to go for it, 537 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,440 Speaker 2: giving her the free license to hit. If you remember 538 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 2: Top of the Show, she was the best spiker, best server. 539 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 2: But it could hit me in the back of the head, 540 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 2: or it could hit the spectator. I didn't know, you 541 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 2: didn't know a point I've called the dynamite, and I've said, 542 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 2: you go for it, like just behind my back. And 543 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 2: I've sort of ducked a little bit because I was 544 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 2: worried about my head. And she's hit a great serve. 545 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 2: She's come off the back of an ace before that 546 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 2: hit a great serve. The ball's been overpassed, so it's 547 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 2: really tight to the net. I've jumped up with the 548 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 2: Brazilian girl to do what we call joust, which is 549 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 2: both trying and hit the ball the same time. She's 550 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 2: got it first, and I have a bit of a 551 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 2: math's brain, physics brain, and I can tell the trajectory 552 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 2: of the ball, the speed of the ball, that it's 553 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 2: going to go out because she's gone over the top 554 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 2: of me. And I've jumped as you can imagine for 555 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 2: Olympic Gold Metal point and got as high as I could, 556 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 2: so I knew this thing was going to go out. Now, 557 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 2: Kerrie doesn't like sand look at think of that. She 558 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 2: just likes sand, she's always trying to get it off her, 559 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 2: and she doesn't like to dive. So when when I 560 00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 2: knew that it was going to go there, I'm like, 561 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:02,480 Speaker 2: she's not diving for that. We've won this thing. I've 562 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 2: turned around. She's running, like, don't run, you don't you 563 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 2: never run because you don't like diving. And she's running 564 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 2: because it's gold medal point. She's trying the hardest. And 565 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 2: so I remember coming off the net yelling at her, 566 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 2: going it's out, it's out, it's out, leave it leave. 567 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 2: It's all in slow motion, and she got all the 568 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,120 Speaker 2: way to the sideline and pulled her arm back whether 569 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 2: she heard me or whether she felt like it was out, 570 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 2: and it dropped three millimeters out of the sideline and 571 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 2: that's how we won the Olympic gold medal. So I 572 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:39,000 Speaker 2: do remember that point quite well as well. 573 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 3: Oh it's just it's just incredible. I'd love to chat 574 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:49,000 Speaker 3: next about what your There are obviously plenty of Olympics 575 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:53,760 Speaker 3: after that, but what your transition into retirement from sport 576 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 3: looked like and what your experience was like as an 577 00:32:56,920 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 3: athlete in and it's a team sport, but I guess 578 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 3: the more individual element of the sport. From a commercial perspective. 579 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, we sort of knew when we started that 580 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 2: it wasn't a high income generating sport. When we got 581 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,160 Speaker 2: into beach volleyball, we'd come home as winners with a 582 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 2: water bottle and a hat. And so there's only so 583 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:20,000 Speaker 2: much you can do with fifty five water bottles and 584 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 2: fifty hats right now. And then you do functions or 585 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 2: you go to events and people would say, will you 586 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 2: come and speak at my function for free, and I'll 587 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 2: give you lunch, and so that's you know the world, 588 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 2: That's how the world started for me. And I thought, great, 589 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:37,560 Speaker 2: a free lunch, that's awesome. I'll come and speak. And 590 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 2: then we realized that we could earn some good money 591 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 2: being a public speaker. And both Kerry and I are 592 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 2: corporate speakers at corporate MC's hosts, And that's how we 593 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:52,479 Speaker 2: learned to make our money. You can make it in 594 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 2: one day, for a week or for a month back 595 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,959 Speaker 2: in those days, and so we work hard on our 596 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 2: speeches and our storytelling and our engagement, and so that 597 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:08,520 Speaker 2: is what kept it wasn't because of our volleyball money 598 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:12,680 Speaker 2: that kept us alive. It was our corporate speaking, and 599 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:15,200 Speaker 2: I did that. I've done that now for thirty years, 600 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:19,120 Speaker 2: so that's been my day job. But we've also known 601 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 2: we've needed another career because it's not going to there's 602 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,040 Speaker 2: not many commentary jobs. It's not like you can go 603 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,840 Speaker 2: into footy or cricket and try and get a commentary job. 604 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:32,759 Speaker 2: Kerry now is the commentator for Channel nine and the 605 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:35,239 Speaker 2: Olympics and does an amazing job and has done that 606 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:38,719 Speaker 2: since she retired after Athens in two thousand and four. 607 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 2: So we've always known we've had to have something else, 608 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:47,439 Speaker 2: and so that's made it a bit easier because we've 609 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 2: been doing that along the way and you didn't have 610 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 2: to show up to a job every day. This is 611 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:58,319 Speaker 2: the difficulty for our athletes today is they're expected to 612 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:02,120 Speaker 2: perform on the field, they're expected to perform off the 613 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:07,759 Speaker 2: field in social media, be high performing role models and citizens, 614 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:11,560 Speaker 2: and then they're expected to get a job. And there's 615 00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:13,960 Speaker 2: no time if you're a decathlete or if you're in 616 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:16,120 Speaker 2: team sport, where you're told when you have to train 617 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:20,080 Speaker 2: and then you've got to recover, and getting to be 618 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:21,960 Speaker 2: the best in the world right now is harder and 619 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:26,319 Speaker 2: harder every single day. So we built a career as 620 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:29,800 Speaker 2: we went and now I do a lot of ambassadorial 621 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:36,720 Speaker 2: work for businesses more so functions events, working on athlete 622 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:40,640 Speaker 2: employment programs to make sure athletes get the flexibility, but 623 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:46,439 Speaker 2: not only the flexibility chlowly because flexibility is great. Oh good, 624 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:48,759 Speaker 2: you can have time off, but then no one's paying you. 625 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:54,279 Speaker 2: So you've got time off and you've got to move 626 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:56,640 Speaker 2: out of your house because you're going on tour for 627 00:35:56,680 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 2: two months to represent your country. It just doesn't feel right. 628 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:04,880 Speaker 2: So how do we get a flexible employer that pays 629 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 2: for your service in the green of gold? And I 630 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,960 Speaker 2: think that is something I'm working on with Deloitte per 631 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:16,120 Speaker 2: an Olympic partner as well, and we're getting close to 632 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 2: how do we compensate the green and gold pride that 633 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:26,840 Speaker 2: we give to the nation as athletes trying to do 634 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:30,120 Speaker 2: our best for the country because it is a it's 635 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:36,400 Speaker 2: a big responsibility and that's really important. So we decided 636 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:38,799 Speaker 2: never to work for that because we couldn't show up 637 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 2: to a job on time and we couldn't give them. 638 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:44,680 Speaker 2: You know, my first job I tried to get, I said, look, 639 00:36:44,719 --> 00:36:46,719 Speaker 2: I can work for two hours here and an hour 640 00:36:46,760 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 2: and a half here and thirty five minutes here, and 641 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:53,160 Speaker 2: we couldn't do online either. We have to physically go 642 00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:58,400 Speaker 2: drive bus. So it's a bit more flexibility with online 643 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:01,600 Speaker 2: work and people understanding a little bit more of why 644 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:03,399 Speaker 2: it's important, but still a long way to go. 645 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:07,719 Speaker 3: Yeah. Absolutely, And was that part of what led you 646 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:09,400 Speaker 3: to start that I was the athlete fund? 647 00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:15,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? What like I was okay, Natalie Cook was okay. 648 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 2: I'd built a good career. I was a public speaker. 649 00:37:18,160 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 2: I could have easily sat there and watched and had 650 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:24,000 Speaker 2: my own my own economy, and I've got built my 651 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:27,600 Speaker 2: own job. And the reason I've been so successful is 652 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 2: building quality relationships and networking. And I would go to 653 00:37:32,239 --> 00:37:35,680 Speaker 2: every function and every event I was invited to because 654 00:37:35,719 --> 00:37:38,680 Speaker 2: that I saw as my work. I was never paid 655 00:37:38,760 --> 00:37:42,960 Speaker 2: to go. I went to watch, see, learn and meet people. 656 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:45,759 Speaker 2: And then if I met people, they might ask me 657 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,200 Speaker 2: to come and do something for them. So I was 658 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:51,480 Speaker 2: front and center. Everyone said I was at the opening 659 00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:54,279 Speaker 2: of an envelope. And I would sit in the front row. 660 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:56,440 Speaker 2: I would never sit at the back because no one 661 00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:58,880 Speaker 2: can see you. I'd sit at the front row. I 662 00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:02,320 Speaker 2: get asked questions I'd ask questions. I became very curious 663 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:08,280 Speaker 2: about business, and so I was okay. But what happened 664 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:12,439 Speaker 2: Thanks to social media. I would get messages every other 665 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:17,160 Speaker 2: day that said, my son has qualified for a trip 666 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:21,120 Speaker 2: to Thailand in the Taekwondo and I can't afford it. 667 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:26,040 Speaker 2: My daughter has qualified to go and represent water polo 668 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:29,160 Speaker 2: and I can't afford it. Do you have any ideas? 669 00:38:29,719 --> 00:38:34,000 Speaker 2: So I'd get a lot of requests to help, and 670 00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:38,040 Speaker 2: I had built a career in fundraise. Literally, I call myself. 671 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:42,160 Speaker 2: We used to call ourselves professional beggars, and then I 672 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:47,839 Speaker 2: call myself a fundraising expert, and we learned to fundraise. Now, 673 00:38:47,960 --> 00:38:51,160 Speaker 2: fundraising isn't just raffle tickets and car washers, which is 674 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 2: how I started. It's building an economy and a fundraising 675 00:38:56,200 --> 00:39:00,200 Speaker 2: map that could involve work, whether it's twenty hours a week, 676 00:39:00,520 --> 00:39:04,880 Speaker 2: could involve sponsorship, it could involve donations for this transports 677 00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:08,640 Speaker 2: foundation page. So I became a fundraising expert, and I 678 00:39:08,719 --> 00:39:10,960 Speaker 2: was sitting on the couch with all of these messages 679 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:14,799 Speaker 2: coming in thinking I have to do something to help 680 00:39:14,880 --> 00:39:19,240 Speaker 2: the next generation prepare themselves on and off the field. 681 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:24,879 Speaker 2: And I also know the fundraising strategies help on court 682 00:39:24,920 --> 00:39:29,799 Speaker 2: performance strategies. Ironically they cross over very well. Right, So 683 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:33,719 Speaker 2: relationship building is good in fundraising and relationship building and 684 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:38,759 Speaker 2: team sport is good. Relationship building with the referee is 685 00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:44,360 Speaker 2: actually quite good if you have not a friendship with 686 00:39:44,440 --> 00:39:47,319 Speaker 2: a referee. But if you're nice to the referee and 687 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:50,279 Speaker 2: there's a close call, you never know, right, I'm sure 688 00:39:50,320 --> 00:39:57,200 Speaker 2: you've experienced that. So I the reason I went into 689 00:39:57,200 --> 00:40:00,319 Speaker 2: the Aussie Athlete Fund was to make an impact act 690 00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:03,480 Speaker 2: across the system. Because I was helping a couple of 691 00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:07,440 Speaker 2: athletes in Queensland, but I thought, how do I make 692 00:40:07,920 --> 00:40:12,600 Speaker 2: a big impact across the whole nation to teach anyone 693 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:16,880 Speaker 2: that wants to learn about building their athlete economy and 694 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:21,520 Speaker 2: the sustainable athlete economy to fund their sporting dreams. Now, 695 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:26,160 Speaker 2: that's the athlete, that's the family. We work with people 696 00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:28,680 Speaker 2: that donate money, We work with people that want a sponsor. 697 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:34,560 Speaker 2: And these are about grassroots athletes. Anyone that is representing 698 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:37,800 Speaker 2: Australia or anyone that has the desire to represent Australia 699 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:41,760 Speaker 2: and is in the pathway. We will at the Aussie 700 00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:46,759 Speaker 2: Athlete Fund educate them, support them, network them, connect them, 701 00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:50,839 Speaker 2: teach them invite them to events, because hard to get 702 00:40:50,840 --> 00:40:52,920 Speaker 2: an invite to events. Some people come to me and say, 703 00:40:52,920 --> 00:40:56,200 Speaker 2: how do I get to the CEO of virgin or 704 00:40:56,239 --> 00:40:58,360 Speaker 2: how do I get to the CEO of Quantas That's hard, 705 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:02,040 Speaker 2: easiest ways to get to an event, but how do 706 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:05,239 Speaker 2: you get invite to an event? So we teach all that. 707 00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:08,439 Speaker 2: We partner with this Transports Foundation who have the tax 708 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:14,160 Speaker 2: deductible fundraising pages, which, oh, that's a game changer, Chloe. 709 00:41:14,239 --> 00:41:17,120 Speaker 2: If I had that, I would have like knocked it 710 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:18,719 Speaker 2: out of the park. But I had to knock knock, 711 00:41:18,760 --> 00:41:23,040 Speaker 2: knock on doors. I had to sell raffle tickets. But 712 00:41:23,360 --> 00:41:28,560 Speaker 2: this ability to digitize and modernize fundraising through this Transports 713 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:30,759 Speaker 2: Foundation has just changed the game. 714 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:34,560 Speaker 3: And so what could say, what could we do at 715 00:41:34,560 --> 00:41:37,640 Speaker 3: the Female Athlete Project to be involved with the AAF? 716 00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:39,399 Speaker 3: Are we calling it AAF for sure? 717 00:41:39,840 --> 00:41:42,319 Speaker 2: AAF? Well net that's what happens these days, right, they 718 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:47,839 Speaker 2: shorten everything. So I'm glad you asked. Thank you. What 719 00:41:47,880 --> 00:41:54,880 Speaker 2: you're doing is sensational building awareness, changing the conversation about 720 00:41:55,360 --> 00:42:00,160 Speaker 2: female athletes. And here in Paris, ironically, I'm walking in 721 00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:05,280 Speaker 2: a fashion parade to address the parody issue of pay 722 00:42:06,160 --> 00:42:10,560 Speaker 2: and Wow, it's run by a full time US Olympian 723 00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:14,920 Speaker 2: ice hockey gold medalist and there's twenty four athletes from 724 00:42:14,960 --> 00:42:19,080 Speaker 2: all over the world. I was going to say marching walking. 725 00:42:19,600 --> 00:42:23,160 Speaker 2: I wish I was marching in the opening ceremony, strutting 726 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:25,239 Speaker 2: my stuff. Now, I'm not a model. I don't like 727 00:42:25,320 --> 00:42:27,840 Speaker 2: doing all of that stuff, but I'm going to do 728 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:32,239 Speaker 2: it to build this awareness. And I told the US 729 00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:35,320 Speaker 2: hockey player Angela, I said, I'm not here to fight 730 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:38,680 Speaker 2: female male equal pay, because that should be a given. 731 00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:44,839 Speaker 2: I'm here to fight for pay for our athletes in 732 00:42:44,880 --> 00:42:45,800 Speaker 2: the Green and Gold. 733 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:50,560 Speaker 3: I love that. Give us a preview of Brisbane twenty 734 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:53,560 Speaker 3: thirty two. You're involved with the World Olympians Association and 735 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:56,279 Speaker 3: you're also involved with Brisbane twenty thirty two. Give us 736 00:42:56,320 --> 00:42:58,400 Speaker 3: a preview of what it's going to look like to 737 00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:00,720 Speaker 3: have the games on home soil. Again. 738 00:43:01,520 --> 00:43:03,480 Speaker 2: Well, my purpose for being in Paris is with the 739 00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:08,320 Speaker 2: World Olympians Association. We run a venue called ol Y, 740 00:43:08,520 --> 00:43:11,560 Speaker 2: which are our post nominal Olympic letters which you have 741 00:43:12,000 --> 00:43:17,040 Speaker 2: as an Olympian, and it's any house. So the reason 742 00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:19,200 Speaker 2: that's important is when we come to Brisbane. We'll have 743 00:43:19,239 --> 00:43:21,960 Speaker 2: an ol Wye House. We'll be able to invite Olympians 744 00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:25,120 Speaker 2: from not only all over Australia, but all over the 745 00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:27,759 Speaker 2: world that are no longer competing to come and be 746 00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:30,840 Speaker 2: part of the games. So we're right at the heart. 747 00:43:30,880 --> 00:43:32,600 Speaker 2: We're in the heart of Paris, not far from the 748 00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:39,680 Speaker 2: Eiffel Tower as welly house will welcome thousands of retired Olympians. 749 00:43:39,680 --> 00:43:42,760 Speaker 2: We're not former Olympians. Once an Olympian, always an Olympian. 750 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:47,880 Speaker 2: We're retired Olympians or non active Olympians celebrating the Olympic 751 00:43:47,920 --> 00:43:51,480 Speaker 2: spirit and the event. So that's what I do at 752 00:43:51,520 --> 00:43:56,560 Speaker 2: World Olympians. There are one hundred thousand living Olympians all 753 00:43:56,600 --> 00:43:59,120 Speaker 2: over the world and our job at the World Olympians 754 00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:04,000 Speaker 2: Association is to celebrate, provide opportunity, provide education and insight 755 00:44:04,080 --> 00:44:07,120 Speaker 2: and connection for those So that's what I'm doing here. 756 00:44:07,680 --> 00:44:09,920 Speaker 2: That will translate. Of course, we will have an Olie 757 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:13,880 Speaker 2: House in Brisbane twenty thirty two. Put me on the list, please, yes, 758 00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:17,600 Speaker 2: you absolutely, you can be the door lady with me. 759 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:20,680 Speaker 2: We can invite them all in, we can high five 760 00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:25,200 Speaker 2: them all as they come through, and we won't have 761 00:44:25,280 --> 00:44:27,600 Speaker 2: a venue like the Eiffel Tower, or have the story 762 00:44:27,600 --> 00:44:31,560 Speaker 2: Bridge but with great story make it. Maybe the story 763 00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:37,960 Speaker 2: Bridge pub could be out. So but my role in 764 00:44:38,440 --> 00:44:41,359 Speaker 2: I'm on the board of Brisbane twenty thirty two and 765 00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:44,680 Speaker 2: that means that there's twenty two of us with the 766 00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:49,799 Speaker 2: Premier Queensland who's the one that signed the deal for 767 00:44:49,960 --> 00:44:53,200 Speaker 2: us to win the Olympic and Paralympic Games to our city. 768 00:44:53,280 --> 00:44:56,400 Speaker 2: So that's pretty cool and twenty two of us big board. 769 00:44:56,520 --> 00:45:00,760 Speaker 2: But there's lots to do. Patrick Johnson Track and Field, 770 00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:06,160 Speaker 2: Indigenous runner. We've just lost Bronte Barrett off the board. 771 00:45:06,200 --> 00:45:09,200 Speaker 2: They will re elect a new one from this Olympics 772 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:14,240 Speaker 2: for a new athlete, Kurt Fernley, our Paralympic representative plenty 773 00:45:14,239 --> 00:45:17,040 Speaker 2: on the board. So our job is to make sure 774 00:45:17,080 --> 00:45:20,799 Speaker 2: we steward the games, to do the best for Queensland, 775 00:45:20,960 --> 00:45:25,040 Speaker 2: Brisbane Australia, and to let people all over the world 776 00:45:25,120 --> 00:45:28,879 Speaker 2: know where Brisbane is. Because here in Paris we've got 777 00:45:28,880 --> 00:45:31,879 Speaker 2: a Brisbane twenty thirty two cafe, so we'll be going 778 00:45:31,920 --> 00:45:34,160 Speaker 2: to that a little bit. We get to talk about 779 00:45:34,160 --> 00:45:37,400 Speaker 2: Brisbane thirty two. We had to talk about why Brisbane's 780 00:45:37,560 --> 00:45:40,360 Speaker 2: games are going to be special, and we are the 781 00:45:40,400 --> 00:45:43,160 Speaker 2: first games with the new norms to spread out a 782 00:45:43,239 --> 00:45:46,200 Speaker 2: little bit and go to the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast. 783 00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:50,040 Speaker 2: There'll be events in Townsville and we can't wait. 784 00:45:51,280 --> 00:45:54,760 Speaker 3: Amazing. Now, thank you so much for your time today, 785 00:45:55,280 --> 00:45:58,480 Speaker 3: for taking time out from eating baggettes and going to 786 00:45:58,760 --> 00:46:02,200 Speaker 3: cafes to talk about the only very much appreciate it. 787 00:46:02,560 --> 00:46:04,759 Speaker 3: But on a serious note, it's a real honor to 788 00:46:04,800 --> 00:46:07,600 Speaker 3: sit down and chat with you, And as I touched on, 789 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:10,120 Speaker 3: it was so special to learn from you and Kerry 790 00:46:10,160 --> 00:46:11,879 Speaker 3: and to be inspired by you and to be able 791 00:46:11,880 --> 00:46:14,600 Speaker 3: to carry that into my own Olympic experience with my teammates. 792 00:46:14,600 --> 00:46:17,000 Speaker 3: So thank you so much for for everything that you've 793 00:46:17,040 --> 00:46:19,000 Speaker 3: done and for everything that you continue to do in 794 00:46:19,040 --> 00:46:20,400 Speaker 3: the sport and Olympic space. 795 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:23,399 Speaker 2: Well I appreciate that, but right back at you, you're 796 00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:25,759 Speaker 2: amazing and you are wearing your Olympic gold medal and 797 00:46:25,800 --> 00:46:30,200 Speaker 2: your necklace around your neck. So keep inspiring. I was thinking, yes, 798 00:46:30,960 --> 00:46:34,719 Speaker 2: it looks like you're learning every day. It's right here, Yeah, 799 00:46:35,040 --> 00:46:38,000 Speaker 2: keep inspiring, keep changing the world the way you're doing 800 00:46:38,080 --> 00:46:40,799 Speaker 2: on and off the field. And I'm your biggest fan 801 00:46:40,920 --> 00:46:43,520 Speaker 2: and I can't wait to see you in person and 802 00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:46,240 Speaker 2: have The Female Athlete Project raise some money for our athletes. 803 00:46:47,239 --> 00:46:51,240 Speaker 3: How good, Yes, amazing. Thank you so much, Nat, Thanks 804 00:46:52,120 --> 00:46:54,480 Speaker 3: thanks so much for listening. If you got something out 805 00:46:54,520 --> 00:46:56,960 Speaker 3: of this episode, I would absolutely love it if you 806 00:46:57,000 --> 00:46:59,040 Speaker 3: could send it on to one person who you think 807 00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:03,000 Speaker 3: might enjoy it. Otherwise, subscribe, give us a review, and 808 00:47:03,080 --> 00:47:05,440 Speaker 3: make sure you follow us on Instagram at the Female 809 00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:08,480 Speaker 3: Athlete Project to stay up to date with podcast episodes, 810 00:47:08,560 --> 00:47:12,040 Speaker 3: merch drops, and of course, news and stories about epic 811 00:47:12,120 --> 00:47:13,120 Speaker 3: female athletes