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The strategies of an Olympic gold medallist.
- I don't have heroes as such. I take inspiration from a wide range of people. I try to see the best qualities and emulate those. I learn from the best. Choose the best from lots of different people.
- Focus. Always think about the job in hand.
- Keep striving to achieve. I haven't achieved everything I want to yet. In 2004 I was disappointed at the Olympics and I want to put it right. It's important that right now there are still lots of things I want to do.
- Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year (2009)
- Appointed MBE (2009)
- World Road Race Champion (2008)
- Olympic Road Race Champion (2008)
- British Road Race Champion (2001-2007, 2009)
- Commonwealth Games - bronze medalist (2006)
- World Cup overall series winner - including 3 rounds (2003)
- Welsh Sports Personality of the Year (2003)
- Commonwealth Games - gold medalist (2002)
- You can ask your friends and family for advice, those who want the best for you.
- Make sure you listen to those who have your best interests at heart.
Profile
Name:
Nicole Cooke
Event:
Cycling
Achievements:
- Be prepared for any eventuality. It eliminates any potential problems.
- Before any key event - a race, an exam - plan and come to terms with what you're doing before so that you can focus clearly.
- Work through what you plan to do before the event. In a race, I think about how to respond, attack etc, in an exam think about different answers, problems that could arise.
- Your own planning is very important. Everything hinges on the work you've done. There are people who help me but, at the end of the day, it's me who puts everything together.
- I ask advice but I know what my limits are and if I let others take over my planning I'm not really working at my very best.
- I prepare carefully the night before an event. I hate not knowing what I'm doing the next day. If everything is in place, then it works for me.
- It's crucial to aim for something - a race, a test, a competition. Think how to get there and plan the route to your goals.
- If you set aims you really believe in, you will achieve. Determination takes over if you really want it!
- I have days where I feel 'Why?' There is no point in battling on if you're not really committed. Cut your training/revising short and do something else and come back to it.
- It's really important to take breaks. Plan in your breaks into your training/revision schedule.
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