Sue Cook, née Orr (born 23 April 1958) is an Australian former racewalking athlete. She is a former world record holder in the 10 kilometres race walk and the 20 kilometres race walk. She competed six times at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup, taking bronze in 1983, and was selected for Australia for the 1987 World Championships in Athletics.
Biography Cook grew up in a sporting family – her father was a veteran-category runner while her older sister Jenny represented Australia at the 1972 Summer Olympics and set a long-standing national record in the 1500 metres.Sue Cook (Orr). Victorian Race Walking Club. Retrieved on 2016-04-16. Her nephew, Daniel McConnell, was later an Olympic cyclist.Jenny Orr. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2016-04-16.
A key figure in the early years of international women's walking, Cook wong the British WAAA Championships title at the 1982 WAAA Championships and took two titles at the IWF World Championships and was a six-time participant at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup. Her best finish at the latter event was a bronze medal at the first holding of the 10 kilometres race walk, finishing behind Xu Yongjiu and Natalya Sharipova.IAAF World Race Walking Cup. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-16.IAAF World Race Walking Cup Taicang 2014 Facts & Figures. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-16. She also represented Australia at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics and 1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships.Sue Cook. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-16.
Cook broke a series of world records which were later recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. She completed the 20 kilometres race walk in 1:41:42 hours in 1980 to knock over a minute and a half off the previous mark set by Thorill Gylder. Cook greatly advanced the sport by breaking the 20 km walk world record three further times, taking it down to 1:39:31 hours, 1:36:36 hours, and finally 1:36:23 hours in 1984. Her last record stood for only ten days at which point her national rival Sally Pierson bettered the time. Cook and Pierson also exchanged the 10 km walk world record, with Cook setting 46:28 minutes in 1980, Pierson going to 45:38 minutes in 1982, then Cook claiming it back with 45:32 minutes the following month.
She won thirteen national titles at the Australian Athletics Championships, taking wins from 3000 m up to the 20 km walk.Australian Championships (Women). GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-16. She was also the 1982 winner of the 5000 metres walk at the AAA Championships and the 1983 winner of the 10 km walk at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.AAA Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-16.Canadian Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-04-16.
International competitions 1979IAAF World Race Walking CupEschborn, West Germany6th5 km walk23:10.111980IWF World ChampionshipsNew York City, United States1st5 km walk23:391981IAAF World Race Walking CupValencia, Spain7th5 km walk24:041982IWF World ChampionshipsBergen, Norway1st5 km walk23:031983IAAF World Race Walking CupBergen, Norway3rd10 km walk45:261984IWF World ChampionshipsLomello, Italy —5 km walk1985IAAF World Race Walking CupSt John's, Isle of Man14th10 km walk48:171987World Indoor ChampionshipsIndianapolis, United States15th3000 m walk13:45IAAF World Race Walking CupNew York City, United States13th10 km walk46:03World ChampionshipsRome, Italy12th10 km walk46:201991IAAF World Race Walking CupSan Jose, United States59th10 km walk51:29
National titles Australian Athletics Championships 3000 m walk: 1977 5000 m walk: 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985 10 km walk: 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 20 km walk: 1990 AAA Championships 5000 m walk: 1982 Canadian Track and Field Championships 10 km walk: 1983
See also List of Australian athletics champions (women)
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