Denise Cook

As a four-time medallist at the 1984 Paralympic Games in New York, Kiwi Denise Cook boasts a proud international record during a time when Para sport was still a developing concept.

Aged just 18 at the time, the Hamilton-based thrower secured discus and shot put gold medals – the latter with a world record performance – and further garnished her memorable Games with a pair of silver medals in the javelin and club throw.

Born in Papakura, South Auckland with Spastic Paraplegia – a form of Cerebral Palsy – life was tough for Denise growing up with a disability.

At the age of three she was sent from home to be based in the Duncan rehabilitation hospital in Whanganui for ten months with limited contact with her parents, who lived two hours away.

“My disability had a great impact on my life,” she recalls. “It was very traumatic to be separated from my family. I only saw them at weekends. Even though I was very young I have vivid memories of going into surgery alone and then during visiting times at the hospital of often being there on my own.”

During this period she also underwent surgery to lengthen her Achilles tendons and eye surgeries before later relocating with her family to Hamilton. 

With her parents keen for Denise to experience as inclusive a life at school as possible she recalls attending school camps and trying different sports as a primary school student.

However, once attending Intermediate school the opportunities regressed.

“Things started to become more difficult and I was excluded from many things because of my disability,” she explains. “Then after I attended high school it became horrific.”

“Persecuted” because of her disability and made to clean the toilets during sports lessons her life was to pivot in a whole new direction after discovering the sanctuary that sport can provide.

Engaged in sport through the Mini Olympics for disabled children she says her sporting pursuits quickly snowballed.

“I loved the participation, being around people and being part of a team,” she says. “At that time I got selected to be part of Central North Island teams where I would compete at regional games.”

Denise quickly discovered an ability to throw. Discus, javelin and shot put were her favourite events which she weaved in with her passion for competitive swimming.

It was also her good fortune to be coached by Hamilton Boys’ High School PE teacher Harry Sydney. 

“He was amazing,” says Denise. “A very influential man in my career who treated me like a normal person and with the same expectations of someone coaching an able bodied person. 

“He pushed me to my limits and beyond, but he was always really supportive and believed in me. He knew all along that one day I could make the Paralympic Games. He was always encouraging but would challenge me all the time and always worked on perfecting my technique.”

Combining swimming training at the Te Rapa pool each morning at 5.30am with an athletics training session at Hamilton Boys’ High after completing her school day, Denise lived a disciplined life in pursuit of sporting glory.

“Sport taught me to be resilient and it taught me great time management skills. I still had to do my training but study hard there was no exception for that. I had no social life. It was school and sport.”

Denise was rewarded for her single-minded approach when – at the age of 15 – she made her international debut at the International Games for the Disabled in Gateshead, England.

Describing her first taste of overseas competition as “eye opening” and “amazing” she thrived on the big stage winning three gold medals in discus, shot put and javelin as well as a silver in the sport of table tennis.

“I was really amazed to be there and surprised by my success,” she recalls.

If 1981 offered a hint of her exciting potential, the 1982 FESPIC Games in Hong Kong confirmed her rich talent. Competing against more than 750 athletes from 23 nations she claimed discus and shot put gold medals and silver in the javelin as well as gold in the 100m breaststroke in the pool.

“I won the novice award for the most outstanding new athlete,” she says of her memories of the FESPIC Games. “I had no idea I would be given that award, it was very much a surprise, but it validated that maybe I was quite good.”

Not a seated athlete at that period of time and wearing callipers and boots, her coach Harry put in a heap of technical work in the countdown to the 1984 Paralympic Games.

Guiding Denise with the same expectations he would an able-bodied athlete, he nonetheless was prepared to adapt his training to best allow his athlete to flourish.

“Because of my disability I couldn’t turn across the circle which limited my momentum in shot and discus. I couldn’t run to throw the javelin, so because I was throwing from a standing position he worked me very hard on technique.

“My preparation for New York was very intense. I knew it would be the biggest competition of my sporting career. I wanted to give it my all.”

Describing her Paralympic adventure to New York as “gobsmacking” it was clear the Games – which were opened by the then US President Ronald Regan – would be like nothing the Waikato teenager had experienced before.

“It was very full on,” she recalls. “We were greeted by armed police escorts before we were then assigned an American volunteer whose job was to ensure all our needs were met.”

In her downtime, Denise went to the top of the World Trade Center and visited the Empire State Building.

Staying in university halls of residence the competition was quite different to back home in New Zealand. Taking place in front of a big crowd at the Mitchel Athletic Complex was a foreign experience for Denise.

Up against challengers from a host of countries, she nonetheless responded to the intensity of competition to defeat Great Britain’s Jane Peters to gold in both the shot put  and discus – achieving a world record of 5.37m in the former.

In the women’s C5 club throw and javelin the positions were reversed as the Kiwi took silver in both events but the highlight remained the world record.

“That was the outstanding one,” she says.  

However, but for an officials’ blunder she believes another world record would have been hers in the discus.

“I had thrown a world record but an uneducated person marking it, took the peg out before it was ratified. I was devastated,” she adds.

“But I was proud. Even winning one medal was beyond my expectations.”

Despite her achievements Denise arrived home to little fanfare and it was only several years ago when Paralympics NZ presented her with a celebratory pin was she formally recognised for her significant accomplishments in New York.

Denise went on to win shot put and discus silver medals and a bronze in the club throw at the 1986 International Cerebral Palsy Games in Belgium but at the age of 20 and struggling with hip problems she retired from the sport.

Having worked for the IRD for 24 years, she had to resign because of health issues 13 years ago, which also meant Denise has had to deal with a range of health issues since stepping away from athletics. Struggling with ongoing heart and kidney issues and undergoing a hip replacement and spinal fusion surgery the two-time Paralympic champion was also badly impacted by a bout of MRSA during a stint in hospital. 

While she has not been directly involved in athletics since retirement she reflects on the journey Para sport has taken – and is delighted at its progress.

“It has come along hugely,” she says. “From then to now, I have maintained an interest in Para Sport and over the years have applauded the inclusivity, acceptance and success achieved by disabled athletes.” 

Denise is reluctant to take any limelight in the role that she played in the development of Para sport, but her significance should not be underplayed.  

“I’m very glad to have played a part, I’m proud of my success and acknowledge the amazing opportunities that sport has given me.”