GREATEST AERIAL SKIER OF ALL TIME
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
APPOINTMENTS
Elected to the WADA (World Anti-doping Agency) Athlete Committee
Elected to the WADA (World Anti-doping Agency) Education Committee
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