Rapilla eager to welcome Cooper

Australian Jacqui Cooper, pictured, is regarded as the greatest skier of all time and on Saturday, she will be the guest speaker at the SP Sports Awards in Port Moresby.
The announcement of Cooper’s appearance was made on April 3 during the announcement of finalists for the awards by Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee secretary-general Auvita Rapilla.
Great sporting personalities have shared their experiences and special moments with guests and finalists at the awards over the years and Cooper is the latest to grace the presentation night.
Cooper represented Australia for 20 years in skiing as a world champion and an Olympian, and is regarded as the greatest aerial skier of all time (man or woman).
Her record of five world titles, 39 World Cup medals, 24 World Cup wins and three major World Championship medals is an achievement that will go unbeaten for decades.
Rapilla thanked SP Brewery and the awards committee for organising Cooper’s trip to Papua New Guinea, saying that she was an inspiration and a living legend in her sport.
“Every guest speaker has shared their own stories of achievement, struggle, success and some hilarious moments too, and I have no doubt that Jacqui has a special story to share that will motivate and inspire us all,” Rapilla said.
Cooper’s story is one of self-belief, passion, triumph, tragedy and the ability to overcome adversity – the type of story that can inspire everyone to achieve their own dreams.
SP Brewery managing director Stan Joyce said Cooper’s record spoke for itself as she was an inspiration and an example of hard work, sacrifice and determination.
“We are delighted to have Jacqui join us for the SP Sports Awards and I am sure everyone will be eager to meet her on the night,” Joyce said.
In between training and competing in events, Copper devotes much of her time to various sporting committees around the world, making sure she can be a voice for her peers.
Over two decades she has spent time on the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) board, the AOC Athlete’s Commission (deputy chair), Ski and Snowboard Australia Board, the Australian Institute of Sport Athletes Commission, the International Ski Federation (FIS) athletes committee, the FIS freestyle athletes committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) athletes committee and the WADA education committee.
Cooper’s passion is education, with her focus being on teaching children and teenagers about living a healthy lifestyle, making smart choices, nutrition, being young role models, dreaming big, being active and goal setting.
She speaks to primary, secondary, and university/Tafe students.
Over 20 years, Cooper has won many awards in recognition for her achievements in sport and for her involvement in the community. During her career, she was honoured as the Victorian young Australian of the year for sport, Victorian sports woman of the year and ski and snowboard athlete of the year.
Her most recent award was the governor’s award, presented to her at the Victorian Sports Awards in 2008 for being a role model, a champion and a woman who is successful in sport and life.