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Emily Cook
22 year old Emily Cook had some amazing breakthroughs last year. News Specialist Shelley Osterloh explains.
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(Nov. 3, 2001)------ Following a frustrating season of nagging injuries, Emily Cook won her first World Cup event last season and went on to win the U.S. Freestyle Aerials title.
If this Park City resident keeps on as she has, she's destined for an Olympic medal.
Emily Cook/Freestyle Aerialist: THE ADRENALINE WHEN YOU LAND A PERFECT JUMP AND END UP ON THE PODIUM, OR YOU KNOW IT'S WHAT YOU'VE BE WANTED TO DO, IT'S LIKE NOTHING ELSE.
Emily Cook describes herself as a dreamer, an optimist.
Her favorite children's book sits beside her bed, Dr. Seuss's "Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are". For her, its a philosophy of life.
Emily Cook/Freestyle Aerialist: I'VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF A LUCKY PERSON. BUT WHEN I SAY THAT TO MY DAD, HE SAYS, YES, BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT SETS YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS.
Emily and her father -- a financial executive in Boston -- are close.
He taught her to fly fish-- something she still enjoys doing with friends on the banks of the Provo River.
Emily lost her mother when she was a child.
When Emily was two, her mother was hit by a drunk driver. She was hospitalized in coma for two years before dying.
Emily Cook/Freestyle Aerialist: I THINK AFTER MY MOM DIED EVERYONE JUST KIND OF GATHERED TOGETHER AND SAID REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THIS KID'S GOING TO HAVE A GOOD LIFE. AND I HAVE. I'VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY. I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SURROUNDING ME THAT HAVE SUPPORTED EVERYTHING I'VE EVER DONE.
Her extended family-- aunts, uncles, grandparents-- all helped dad raise her and gave her the confidence to go after her dreams. When she was just 18, she moved to Park City to pursue her dream.
Emily Cook/Freestyle Aerialist: WHEN I WAS 13 THERE WAS AN ARTICLE TOTALLY RANDOMLY WRITTEN ABOUT MY FRIENDS AND I, AND IT SAID EMILY WANTS TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS IN 2002. AND BACK THEN, EVERYONE WAS LIKE HAR HAR, THAT'S GREAT, THAT'S PERFECT, WHATEVER EMILY. I MEAN A COUPLE OF PEOPLE BELIEVED ME AND I BELIEVED IT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY COOL TO REALIZE THAT DREAM.
A dream she often shares with other, younger athletes. When she's not training herself, she likes to coach children at the Olympic Park or a nearby gymnastics facility.
But it is her enthusiasm, attitude and confidence that define this athlete and may propel Emily Cook to Olympic fame.
