Kerri Pottharst
Encyclopedia
Kerri Ann Pottharst OAM
(born 25 June 1965) is an Australian professional beach volleyball
player and Olympic gold medallist.
Pottharst was born in Adelaide
, South Australia
and currently resides in Sydney.
In addition to her volleyball commitments, Pottharst is the face of "beach2xl", a corporate team building program, and does motivational speaking.
She partnered with Natalie Cook
, and together, they represented Australia at the Atlanta Olympics
in 1996, winning a bronze medal - the very first time that beach volleyball had been an Olympic sport. In the same year, the pair won a silver medal at the world championships, and came first in the World Tour Event in Japan.
Cook and Pottharst split for a few years afterwards, but reunited in time for the Sydney Olympics
. Before the games, they finished third in the World Tour Events in France and Portugal. At the games themselves, the pair dominated the competition, taking out the gold medal. In the aftermath of their Olympic win, the pair were awarded the Order of Australia
, Australia's highest honor. Cook and Pottharst were included in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
's Team of the Decade.
After the Olympics, Pottharst retired, but has since come out of retirement and returned to competition. According to Worldwide beach volleyball statistics, Pottharst has never been outside of the top 10 and rarely outside of the top six in International Beach Volleyball events since 1994.
Pottharst appeared on the Nine Network's TV reality show 'Celebrity Circus' in 2005, in which she trained with stars of Australia's Silvers Circus.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 25 June 1965) is an Australian professional beach volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
player and Olympic gold medallist.
Pottharst was born in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and currently resides in Sydney.
In addition to her volleyball commitments, Pottharst is the face of "beach2xl", a corporate team building program, and does motivational speaking.
Sporting career
Pottharst began playing indoor volleyball in 1982 and by 1990 was recognised as one of the best volleyball players in Australia. A serious knee injury in 1992 forced her off the hard court and she began playing beach volleyball.She partnered with Natalie Cook
Natalie Cook
Natalie Louise Cook OAM is an Australian professional beach volleyball player and Olympic gold medallist.-Early life:...
, and together, they represented Australia at the Atlanta Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in 1996, winning a bronze medal - the very first time that beach volleyball had been an Olympic sport. In the same year, the pair won a silver medal at the world championships, and came first in the World Tour Event in Japan.
Cook and Pottharst split for a few years afterwards, but reunited in time for the Sydney Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Before the games, they finished third in the World Tour Events in France and Portugal. At the games themselves, the pair dominated the competition, taking out the gold medal. In the aftermath of their Olympic win, the pair were awarded the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, Australia's highest honor. Cook and Pottharst were included in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball , commonly known by the acronym FIVB, is the international governing body for the sport of indoor, beach and grass volleyball.. Its headquarters are located in Lausanne, Switzerland and its current president is Wei Jizhong .- History :The FIVB was founded...
's Team of the Decade.
After the Olympics, Pottharst retired, but has since come out of retirement and returned to competition. According to Worldwide beach volleyball statistics, Pottharst has never been outside of the top 10 and rarely outside of the top six in International Beach Volleyball events since 1994.
Pottharst appeared on the Nine Network's TV reality show 'Celebrity Circus' in 2005, in which she trained with stars of Australia's Silvers Circus.