Melbourne, Australia March 17- April 1, 2007 - Hanson Media Group

Australian Aquatics Media Guide - XII FINA World Swimming Championships – Melbourne March 17 – April 1, 2007 © HSM
NAME: REBECCA RIPPON
NICKNAME: Bec
D.O.B: 26 December 1978
AGE: 28
BORN: Sydney,NSW
LIVES: Sydney,NSW
MARITAL STATUS: Single
HGT: 167
WGT: 71
CLUB/INSTITUTE: Balmain Tigers/ NSWIS
TRAINS (Pool): SOPAC
COACH: Phil Bower/Ryan Moore
CAP No. 4
POSITION: Counter Attack/Driver
HANDEDNESS: Right
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Being part of the Australian Team to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games. However,
part of the team which won a bronze medal at the 2006 world league and recently won a
gold medal at the World Cup in China, are also the 2 other major achievements I have
been proud to have been a part of.
OUT OF THE POOL
FAMILY MEMBERS: Dad (Steve Rippon), Brothers (Adam and Justin Rippon), Sister
(Melissa Rippon), Step-mum (Leigh Rippon), Step Sister (Kate Gynther), Step Brothers
(Scott and Drew Gynther)
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU: My entire family and my mother especially; people
who are able to overcome great obstacles in their life to achieve their goals and people
who are willing to work for what they want.
ROLE MODELS: My sister, Simone Hankin, Grant Hackett
PERSONAL
STUDIES/OCCUPATION: Completed my university degree in Sport Management. Work
as a swimming coach when I am living in Sydney
SPORTS BEFORE Water Polo/AUSTRALIAN TEAMS/MAJOR RESULTS (with year):
Swimming and Open water swimming (represented Australia at Open water swimming
once in the Oceania Swimming Championships
INTERESTING FACTS PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU NOW: I have a soft
toy dolphin that travels the world with me. My mothers side of the family is Lebanese
ULTIMATE RELAXATION: Catching waves at the beach until I am so tired that I can
come home and fall asleep on the lounge watching dvds
SPECIALTY IN THE KITCHEN: bacon and eggs on pancakes
ONE THING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: My toothbrush
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO AWAY FROM WATER POLO: go to the beach, movies,
go out for dinner, hang out with good friends and my family
FAVOURITE:
SPORTING TEAM: Canberra Raiders NRL, Australian Cricket team, Liverpool Football
club
MOVIES: A few good men, Lost in Translation, The prestige, Austin Powers series
TV SHOW: Prison Break BANDS/MUSIC: Madonna, Garbage
CDs: Christina Aguilera- Stripped, Madonna- The Immaculate Collection
FOOD: Lebanese DRINK: Cola and Lemon squash
WATER POLO EVENT: National club Championships
HOBBIES: Beach, listening to music, movies, shopping
PETS: I don’t have any of my own but I claim my brothers 2 labradors (Wilson and
Chloe) as my own
BEST MATES: Fee, Tash, Hank, Sista,
LAST BOOK READ: “The Lincoln Lawyer” by Michael Connelly
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST ASSET? The ability to laugh at myself
FAMILY MEMBERS: Liam (my Nephew)
HAVE ANY OF YOUR FAMILY REPRESENTED AUSTRALIA OR PLAYED SPORT
AT A NATIONAL LEVEL? My sister Melissa and my Step sister Katie are both
members of the Australian Womens waterpolo team
WHO HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY? My mum.
She had a very gentle personality but inside was a very strong woman and never just let
anything or anyone beat her without a real fight. Her attitude has taught me that nothing
can beat me if I don’t let it
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS? Stubborn, cheecky, loyal
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? I like to live my life how I want doing
things that I am passionate about and enjoy so that I am happy but also hard working to
achieve what I want along the way. So I guess I would like to be remembered like this.
WATER POLO SHORT TERM GOALS: to play well and help my team win a medal at
the world championships in March
WATER POLO ULTIMATE GOAL: To win a gold medal in 2008 in Beijing
PERSONAL AMBITIONS: To have a career in the aquatic environment with both
swimming and waterpolo- perhaps with school children. To travel to certain parts of the
world that have eluded me so far and enjoy experiencing life there. Maybe to learn the
drums or guitar one day.
HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY OBSTACLES DURING YOUR WATER POLO
WHAT AGE DID YOU START WATER POLO AND WHY? 14. I began playing at
school because they asked me to help the team as I knew how to swim. And I had seen
my brother playing and it seemed like a bit of fun
FAVOURITE WATER POLO PLAYER AND WHY? Mel- my sister. She plays a game I
like and that I try and play myself. She does a lot of creative things in the water and is
more involved in setting up situations for others than just for herself.
FAVOURITE ATHLETE AND WHY? Grant Hackett. I love his attitude and his work ethic
NOTABLE QUOTE: if it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger
AUSTRALIAN TEAM REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS
EVENT LOCATION YEAR RESULTS
Olympics Athens, Greece 2004 4th World Championships Barcelona, Spain 2003 7th Montreal, Canada 2005 6th Commonwealth Games /
Champs
Manchester, UK 2002 1st Perth, Australia 2006 1st Club Titles (Aust and OS) National Club Championships, Newcastle 2003 1st with Cronulla Sharks
Club Champions Trophy, SIAC 2003 1st with Cronulla Sharks
National League, Sydney (finals) 2004 3rd with Balmain Tigers
National League, Brisbane (finals) 2005 2nd with Balmain Tigers
World Cup Perth, Australia 2002 5th Tian Jing, China 2006 1st World Jnr Championships Quebec, Canada 1995 2nd Prague, Czech Republic 1997 2nd Overseas Clubs Rasula Alta; Sicily, Italy A2 competition 2000/1 2nd Rasula Alta; Sicily, Italy A2 Competition 2001/2
Vouliagmeni Nautical Club; Athens Greece 2006 1st in Greek Domestic Competition
European Champions Cup; Final 4 (Sicily, Italy)
Vouliagmeni Nautical Club; Athens Greece 2006/7 Currently playing