Carol Cooke AM PLY

Carol Cooke AM PLY is one of Australia’s most inspiring figures in sport and advocacy. Born in Canada, Carol served 14 years in law enforcement, including four years undercover, before relocating to Australia. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998, she defied predictions of incapacitation, later excelling in elite sport. Initially a national-level swimmer, she switched to rowing, then Para cycling, capturing three Paralympic gold medals (London 2012, Rio 2016) and a silver at the Tokyo Paralympics at age 60. A passionate MS advocate, Carol founded the 24-Hour Mega Swim, raising over $11 million. For her contributions, she was named a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014. Carol is also an accomplished author of Finding Your Inner Gold and The Force Within. Through her motivational speaking, Carol shares her philosophy of resilience, daring audiences to face fears and embrace change with courage and determination.