Diving Australia
Alex Croak
Nickname: Alex
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: Chava Sobrino
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Competed at 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 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
IN 2007
Bronze in 10 metre at FINA Italian Grand Prix.
7th on 10 metre at the World University Games in Bangkok
7th on 10 metre at the World University Games in Bangkok
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"
| AUSTRALIAN TEAM REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS - DIVING | |||
| EVENT | LOCATION | YEAR | RESULTS |
| Olympics | Beijing, China | 2008 | 18th 10m |
| World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | 2007 | 18th 1m, 20th 10m |
| Commonwealth Games | Melbourne, Australia | 2006 | 2nd 10m synchro (Wu) |
| FINA World Series | Mexico City, Mexico | 2009 | 4th 10m |
| FINA Grand Prix | 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 | 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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