The Para-cyclist is taking part in the fifth edition of the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) Accelerate Program, a career development initiative that has supported over 80 retired female athletes from 32 sports since it was first launched in 2021.

The 2025 cohort recently spent a week on site at the AIS in Canberra, where they immersed themselves in workshops, built their professional networks, and explored the many pathways available to them after sport.

For Cooke, AIS Accelerate was the natural next step after retiring from professional sport last year.

“It was definitely time to retire,” Cooke said. “I’ve been racing for 14 years and started at 50, so I feel proud of what I’ve achieved. Now, I want to keep riding for fun, but more importantly, I want to figure out how I can give back to the sport that has given me so much.”

“AIS Accelerate just sounded like something that I needed. I wasn’t sure I’d be chosen, but I figured what the heck — I’ll just apply and see where it takes me.”

Cooke’s ambitions for the program are both personal and professional. She’s focused on expanding her network of retired athletes and improving her interviewing and communication skills — tools that will help her continue inspiring and leading well beyond the track.

“I want to learn where the skills I’ve gained in the last 63 years could take me. The legacy I want to leave is, ‘It’s never too late.’"

To learn more about AIS Accelerate including current and former participants, visit the Australian Sports Commission website.