Diving Australia
Alexandra Croak
DOB: 9th July 1984
Born: Sydney NSW
Lives: Sydney NSW
Hgt: 167cm
Wgt: 57kg
Institute: NSWIS
Club: Perfect 10 Diving Club
Trains: Sydney Olympic Park
Coach: Salvador Sobrino
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Silver Medallist 10m synchro (Wu) at 2011 FINA World Championships
- Gold Medallist 10m synchro (Wu) at 2010 Commonwealth Games, Delhi
- Silver Medallist 10m synchro (Wu) 17th FINA World Cup
- Competed a 2 Olympic Games Beijing 2008 (Diving) and Sydney 2000 (Gymnastics)
- Silver Medallist 10m synchro Commonwealth Games 2006
- 5th American Grand Prix 2006
- Silver Medallist 10m synchro Italian Grand Prix 2006
IN 2012
- Competed at FINA World Cup
- Won silver 10 metre synchro (Wu) at FINA German Grand Prix
- Place 1st 10 metre synchro: 4th 10 metre at Australian Open Championships, Adelaide
IN 2011
- Won silver 10 metre synchro (Wu) at FINA World Championships, Shanghai
- Won bronze 10 metre synchro (Wu) at FINA World Series Mexico
- Won bronze 10 metre at FINA World Series Great Britian
- Won bronze 10 metre & 10 metre synchro (Wu) FINA World Series Russia
- Won bronze 10 metre & 10 metre synchro (Wu) FINA World Series China
IN 2010
- Won gold 10 metre synchro (Wu), bronze 10 metre at 2010 Commonwealth Games
- Won silver 10 metre synchro (Wu) at 17th FINA World Cup, China
- Won 2 bronze 10 synchro (Wu) at FINA World Series, Mexico
- Won bronze 10m synchro (Wu) at FINA Canadian Grand Prix
- Placed 1st in 10 metre, 3rd in 1 metre and 1st 10 metre synchro (Wu) at Australian Open Championships in Sydney
IN 2009
- Won bronze medal in 10 metre at FINA Spanish Grand Prix
- Placed 4th in 10 metre at FINA Diving World series in Mexico City
- Placed 2nd in 1 metre and 10 metre at Australian Open Championships in Brisbane
IN 2008
- Semi-finalist in 10 metre at Beijing Olympic Games
- Won bronze 10 metre at FINA Spanish Grand Prix, Madrid
IN 2007
- Bronze in 10 metre at FINA Italian Grand Prix.
- 7th on 10 metre at the World University Games in Bangkok
- Competed at FINA World Championships
IN 2006
- Won silver in 10 metre synchro (Wu) Commonwealth Games
IN 2005
- Semi-finalist 1m World University Games 2005
IN 2004
- Just started diving
OUT OF THE POOL
FAMILY MEMBERS:
Mum - Heather McDonald, Dad – Michael Croak, Brother – Benjamin, Sisters – Emma and Rebecca, Nephew – Jaiden Harrison.
BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN LIFE:
Parents and Chava Sobrino (Coach). My parents for their patience and encouragement. Chava for his endless support, belief and patience.
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU:
People living their dreams – whatever they may be
ROLE MODELS:
Rodger Federer
PERSONAL
STUDIES/OCCUPATION:
Full time student at the University of Sydney studying Occupational Therapy
SPORTS BEFORE DIVING/AUSTRALIAN TEAMS:
Gymnastics
INTERESTING FACTS PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU:
I sponsor an orphaned elephant in Kenya named Dida. She is almost one year old.
SUPERSTITIONS:
Light green/aqua chamois
ULTIMATE RELAXATION:
Watching TV in tracky and uggies (favourite item in my cupboard)
SPECIALTY IN THE KITCHEN:
Toasted sandwiches – I have the magic touch!
ONE THING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT:
Chocolate
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO AWAY FROM DIVING:
Hang out with friends
MY FAVOURITE
SPORTING TEAM:
Socceroos
MOVIES:
Girl Interrupted and American Beauty
TV SHOW:
Entourage and Grey’s Anatomy
BANDS/MUSIC:
Kings of Leon, Pearl Jam and Triple J
CD’S:
Future/Sex/Love/Sound – Justin Timberlake, From the Sea – Eskimo Joe, Vitalogy – Pearl Jam, Celebrity Skin – Hole, Stripped – Christina Aguilera
DRINK:
Cold, cold water
DIVING MEET:
Olympic Games
MY
HOBBIES:
Eating and sleeping – very talented at both
PETS:
Dida my little fostered elephant
BEST MATES:
Michelle Hayward, Erin Lowrie and Jacqui Dunn
LAST BOOK READ:
Chalked Up by Jennifer Sey
GREATEST ASSET:
My sensibility
HAVE ANY OF YOUR FAMILY REPRESENTED AUSTRALIA OR PLAYED SPORT AT A NATIONAL LEVEL?
Mum was a swimmer and dad was a cyclist, Emma did surf club and swimming at national level and Rebecca was a swimmer and runner at national level
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?
Indecisive, forgetful and determined
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?
1. To be a dual Olympian for two different sports and 2. For my work ethic
DIVING SHORT TERM GOALS:
Focusing on the Olympics 2008 and World Championships 2009
DIVING CAREER ULTIMATE GOAL:
Medallist at the Beijing Olympics 2008
PERSONAL AMBITIONS:
To settle for nothing less than my best
HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY OBSTACLES DURING YOUR DIVING CAREER?
Time. I started diving relatively late/old
WHAT AGE DID YOU START DIVING AND WHY?
At 19 because I wanted to take up another sport after retiring for 18 months from my gymnastics career, so I thought diving would be a good idea.
FAVOURITE DIVER AND WHY?
Matthew Mitcham has been a great training partner over the past 18 months.
NOTABLE QUOTE:
"Count your blessings, not your troubles"
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AUSTRALIAN TEAM REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS - DIVING
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EVENT
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LOCATION
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YEAR
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RESULTS
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Olympics
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Beijing, China | 2008 | 18th 10m |
| World Championships | Shanghai, China | 2011 |
2nd 10m synchro (Wu); 7th 10m
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| Melbourne, Australia | 2007 | 18th 1m; 20th 10m | |
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Commonwealth Games
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Delhi, India
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2010
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1st 10m synchro (Wu); 2nd 10m
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| Melbourne, Australia | 2006 | 2nd 10m synchro (Wu) | |
| FINA World Series | Guanajuato, Mexico |
2011
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3rd 10m synchro (Wu)
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| Sheffield, GBR |
2011
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3rd 10m & 10m synchro (Wu)
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| Beijing, China |
2011
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3rd 10m
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| Moscow, Russia |
2011
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3rd 10m & 10m synchro (Wu)
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Veracruz, Mexico I
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2010
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3rd 10m synchro (Wu); 8th 10m
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Verecruz, Mexico II
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2010
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3rd 10m synchro (Wu); 8th 10m
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| Mexico City, Mexico | 2009 | 4th 10m | |
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FINA Grand Prix
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Rostock, Germany |
2012
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2nd 10m synchro (Wu) |
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Montreal, Canada
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2010
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3rd 10m synchro (Wu); 9th 10m
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| Madrid, Spain | 2009 | 3rd 10m | |
| Rostock, Germany | 2008 | 6th 10m | |
| Fort Lauderdale, USA | 2008 | 17th 10m | |
| Montreal, Canada | 2008 | 6th 10m | |
| Shenzhen, China | 2008 | 4th 10m | |
| Rome, Italy | 2007 | 3rd 10m | |
| Madrid, Spain | 2007 | 6th 10m | |
| Rome, Italy | 2006 | 11th 10m | |
| Fort Lauderdale, USA | 2006 | 5th 10m | |
| Sydney, Australia | 2006 | 9th 10m | |
| World Cup | London, Great Britian | 2012 |
4th 10m sync synchro (Wu)
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Changzhou, China
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2010
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2nd 10m sync synchro (Wu); 9th 10m
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| Chang Shu, China | 2006 | 15th 10m; 5th 10m synchro (Wu) | |
| World Uni Games | Bangkok, Thailand | 2007 | 7th 10m |
| AUSTRALIAN TEAM REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS - GYMNASTICS | |||
| EVENT | LOCATION | YEAR | RESULTS |
| Olympics | Sydney, Australia | 2000 | 7th in Team event (Gymnastics) |
| World Championships | Ghent, Belgium | 2001 | 7th in Team event (Gymnastics) |
| Commonwealth Games | Manchester, England | 2002 | 1st Team event, 2nd vault, 4th bars, 15th All-Around (Gymnastics) |
| Pacific Alliance | Vancouver, Canada | 2002 | 2nd Teams event, 3rd vault, 4th All-Around (Gymnastics) |
| Australia vs China | Canberra, Australia | 2002 | 6th All-Around (Gymnastics) |
| Friendship Classic | Pottsville, USA | 2002 | 1st All-Around (Gymnastics) |
| East Asian Games | Osaka, Japan | 2001 | 8th All-Around (Gymnastics) |
| China Motor Cup | China | 2000 | 6th All-Around, 2nd floor (Gymnastics) |
| AUS vs UKR vs BLR | Perth, Australia | 2000 | 6th All-Around, 2nd bars (Gymnastics) |
| Romanian International | Bucharest, Romania | 2000 | 20th All-Around (Gymnastics) |
| Pacific School Games | Sydney, Australia | 2000 | 2nd All-Around (Gymnastics) |
| Canberra Cup | Canberra, Australia | 1999 | 1st beam (Gymnastics) |
| Japan Junior International | Yokohama, Japan | 1999 | 11th All-Around (Gymnastics) |
| Pusan International | Pusan, Korea | 1998 | 3rd beam |
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