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
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
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2008
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18th 10m
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World Championships
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Melbourne, Australia
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2007
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18th 1m, 20th 10m
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Commonwealth Games
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Melbourne, Australia
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2006
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2nd 10m synchro (Wu)
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FINA World Series
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Mexico City, Mexico
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2009
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4th 10m
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FINA Grand Prix
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Madrid, Spain
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2009
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3rd 10m
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Rostock, Germany
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2008
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6th 10m
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Fort Lauderdale, USA
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2008
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17th 10m
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Montreal, Canada
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2008
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6th 10m
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Shenzhen, China
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2008
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4th 10m
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Rome, Italy
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2007
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3rd 10m
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Madrid, Spain
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2007
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6th 10m
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Rome, Italy
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2006
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11th 10m
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Fort Lauderdale, USA
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2006
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5th 10m
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Sydney, Australia
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2006
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9th 10m
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World Cup
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Chang Shu, China
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2006
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15th 10m, 5th 10m synchro (Wu)
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World Uni Games
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Bangkok, Thailand
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2007
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7th 10m
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AUSTRALIAN TEAM REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS - GYMNASTICS
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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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Sydney, Australia
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2000
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7th in Team event (Gymnastics)
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World Championships
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Ghent, Belgium
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2001
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7th in Team event (Gymnastics)
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Commonwealth Games
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Manchester, England
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2002
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1st Team event, 2nd vault, 4th bars, 15th All-Around (Gymnastics)
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Pacific Alliance
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Vancouver, Canada
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2002
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2nd Teams event, 3rd vault, 4th All-Around (Gymnastics)
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Australia vs China
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Canberra, Australia
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2002
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6th All-Around (Gymnastics)
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Friendship Classic
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Pottsville, USA
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2002
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1st All-Around (Gymnastics)
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East Asian Games
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Osaka, Japan
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2001
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8th All-Around (Gymnastics)
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China Motor Cup
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China
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2000
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6th All-Around, 2nd floor (Gymnastics)
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AUS vs UKR vs BLR
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Perth, Australia
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2000
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6th All-Around, 2nd bars (Gymnastics)
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Romanian International
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Bucharest, Romania
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2000
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20th All-Around (Gymnastics)
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Pacific School Games
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Sydney, Australia
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2000
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2nd All-Around (Gymnastics)
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Canberra Cup
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Canberra, Australia
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1999
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1st beam (Gymnastics)
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Japan Junior International
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Yokohama, Japan
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1999
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11th All-Around (Gymnastics)
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Pusan International
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Pusan, Korea
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1998
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3rd beam
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