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: SOPHIE SMITH
NICKNAME: Soph
D.O.B: 26 February, 2006
AGE: 20
BORN: Brisbane, Australia
LIVES: Brisbane, Australia
MARITAL STATUS: Single
HGT: 181cm
WGT: 73kg
CLUB/INSTITUTE: Barracudas
TRAINS (Pool):
COACH: Aleks Osadchuk
CAP No. 3
POSITION: Centre Back
HANDEDNESS: Right
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Playing in the Junior Fina Women’s World Championships in
Perth, Australia, 2005 and finishing 3rd , being picked in the
Senior team to tour for World League in Kirishi, Russia and
finishing 3rd , winning Commonwealth Champs in Perth in
2006.
OUT OF THE POOL
FAMILY MEMBERS: Liz and Greg Smith and Holly (23), Jackson
(18) and Patrick (16)
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU: Mum and Dad with their
constant support and constructive criticism. Sharyn Gist and Aleks
Osadchuk (QAS Head Coaches) have also inspired me to achieve
and believe in myself.
ROLE MODELS: John Buchanan, Australian Cricket Coach, for
giving me advice on my sporting career
PERSONAL
STUDIES: Bachelor of Urban Development (majoring in Property
Economics), Queensland University of Technology
INTERESTING FACTS PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU
NOW: Had Meningitis at 4mths old and was not expected to live!
SUPERSTITIONS: Due to my mum I am a believer in old wives
tales such as don’t walk under ladders and don’t put new shoes on
the table.
ULTIMATE RELAXATION: Thai Foot Spa, Park Road, Milton,
Brisbane
SPECIALTY IN THE KITCHEN: Buttermilk Pancakes with
Caramelised banana
ONE THING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: my family
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO AWAY FROM WATER POLO:
Cook, go to the beach, shop
FAVOURITE:
SPORTING TEAM: Wallabies, Australian Rugby Union Team
MOVIES: Love Actually
TV SHOW: Sex and the City, Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate
Housewives
SINGER: Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera
CD’S: Any mix Cassie Grayson puts together
FOOD: Arnott’s Mint Slice
DRINK: Veuve Clicquot
WATER POLO EVENT: Commonwealth Championships, Perth,
AUSTRALIAN TEAM REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS
EVENT LOCATION YEAR RESULTS
Commonwealth Games /
Champs
Perth, Australia 2006 1st World Jnr Championships Perth, Australia 2005 3rd Overseas Clubs Oneonta, New York 2005
Varese Olona Nuoto 2006-2007
Australia 2006
HOBBIES: Travelling, cooking, going to the beach, spending time
with family and friends
PETS: Millie, Barney and Eddie (3 dogs)
BEST MATES: Cassie Grayson, Patsy Redmond and Eleni
Anderson
LAST BOOK READ: The Last Secret of the Temple, Paul
Sussman
WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST ASSET? Being born with extremely
long arms
WHO HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE
AND WHY? Mum and Dad for their financial and emotional support
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?
Independent, ambitious and loyal
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? As a smart,
hard-working player who never gives up
WATER POLO SHORT TERM GOALS: To make the Australian
National teams in the lead up to Beijing.
WATER POLO ULTIMATE GOAL: To play and win a gold medal
at the Olympic Games
PERSONAL AMBITIONS: To play at the Olympic Games and to
own my own Real Estate Firm focussing on Prestige Real Estate
HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY OBSTACLES DURING YOUR
WATER POLO CAREER? Disappointments when missing out on
national teams
WHAT AGE DID YOU START WATER POLO AND WHY? 13,
when I went to High School it was a major sport and coming from a
swimming background it seemed a good sport to try.
FAVOURITE WATER POLO PLAYER AND WHY? Melissa Bryon
(nee: Mills) (2000 Olympic Gold Medalist), when I was starting to
learn how to play water polo for taking time to give advice on my
game and career while also inspiring me to be able to play like her.
FAVOURITE ATHLETE AND WHY? Adam Scott(golfer) because
he is talented and is very easy on the eye
NOTABLE QUOTE: “They never said it would be easy, they only
said it would be worth it.”