13 Facts About Steve Hooker

Steven Leslie Hooker OAM was born on 16 July 1982 and is an Australian former pole vaulter and Olympic gold medalist.

Steve Hooker won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a vault of 5.96 metres, setting a new Olympic record, and making him the first Australian male track and field gold medallist in 40 years since Ralph Doubell won the 800 metres in Mexico City in 1968.

At the 2009 World Athletics Championships, in Berlin, Steve Hooker won the gold medal despite a hamstring injury.

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Steve Hooker won the gold medal in the pole vault.

Steve Hooker competed at the 2012 London Olympics and finished 14th after failing to vault a height in the final.

Steve Hooker joined six-metre club for the first time on 27 January 2008 at an outdoor competition in Perth, Western Australia with a vault of 6.0m.

Steve Hooker retired from athletics in April 2014, choosing to focus on his family.

In October 2017, Steve Hooker was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame as an athlete member.

Steve Hooker attended Greythorn Primary School and Balwyn High School in Balwyn North, Victoria.

Steve Hooker's mother Erica Hooker was a 1972 Olympian and a 1978 Commonwealth Games long jump silver medalist.

Steve Hooker began his career with the Box Hill Athletic Club.

Steve Hooker's career started slowly, and he only went professional in 2006.

Steve Hooker relocated to Perth, living on a very modest Australian Sports Commission allowance.