View source for Steve Hooker

{{Short description|Australian pole vaulter (born 1982)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name           = Steve Hooker<br /><small>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|OAM}}}}</small>
| image          = 2008 Australian Olympic team Steve Hooker - Sarah Ewart cropped.jpg
| imagesize      = 200px
| caption        = Steve Hooker in 2008
| fullname       = Steven Leslie Hooker
| nickname       = Hooksy
| nationality    = Australian
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1982|07|16}}
| birth_place    = [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
| death_date     =
| death_place    =
| height         = {{height|cm=187}}<ref name="IAAFbio">[http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/letter=0/athcode=174653 Steve Hooker's profile at the IAAF site]</ref>
| weight         = {{convert|75|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="IAAFbio" />
| sport          = Athletics
| event          = Pole vault
| club           = 
| team           = 
| regionals      = 
| nationals      = 
| olympics       = 2004 Athens Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics
| highestranking = 
| pb             = 
| updated     = 
| medaltemplates = 
{{Medal|Country | {{AUS}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold | [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault|Pole vault]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 Berlin]]|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's pole vault|Pole vault]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2010 Doha]]|[[2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's pole vault|Pole vault]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2008 Valencia]]|[[2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's pole vault|Pole vault]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold | [[2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]] | [[Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games#Men|Pole vault]]}}
{{Medal|Gold | [[2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]] | [[Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's pole vault|Pole vault]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Cup|World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2006 IAAF World Cup|2006 Athens]]|[[2006 IAAF World Cup results#Pole vault|Pole vault]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF Continental Cup|Continental Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2010 IAAF Continental Cup|2010 Split]]|[[2010 IAAF Continental Cup results#Men's pole vault|Pole vault]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[World Athletics Final]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2007 IAAF World Athletics Final|2007 Stuttgart]]|Pole vault}}
| show-medals = yes
}}

'''Steven Leslie Hooker''' [[Order of Australia|OAM]] (born 16 July 1982) is an Australian former [[pole vault]]er and [[Olympic gold medal]]ist. His personal best, achieved in 2008, is {{T&Fcalc|6.06}} making him the fourth-highest pole vaulter in history,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=49249.html |title=Hooker's rise continues - 6.06m in Boston |access-date=9 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209113855/http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=49249.html |archive-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> behind [[Sergey Bubka]], [[Renaud Lavillenie]] and [[Armand Duplantis]].

Hooker was born in [[Melbourne, Victoria]], and has a personal best of 10.79&nbsp;s in 100&nbsp;m as an amateur sprinter.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/sport/steve-hooker-to-run-in-stawell-gift-20100316-qbpo.html |title=Steve Hooker to run in Stawell Gift |date=16 March 2010 |access-date=18 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322191419/http://www.theage.com.au/sport/steve-hooker-to-run-in-stawell-gift-20100316-qbpo.html |archive-date=22 March 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> He ran in the 2010 [[Stawell Gift]].

==Career==
Hooker won gold at the 2008 [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Olympics]] with a vault of 5.96 metres, setting a new [[List of Olympic records in athletics|Olympic record]], and making him the [[Australia at the Olympics|first Australian male]] [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|track and field]] gold medallist in 40 years since [[Ralph Doubell]] won the 800 metres in [[1968 Summer Olympics|Mexico City in 1968]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24229212-5017041,00.html |title=Steve Hooker lives out his Olympic games dream |work=[[The Australian]] |date=24 August 2009 |access-date=6 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009223201/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24229212-5017041,00.html |archive-date=9 October 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Evans |title=Hooker gives Australia pole gold |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=22 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Australian Associated Press |title=Aussie Hooker wins pole vault gold medal |url=http://au.sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news/article/-/4952294/steve-hooker-wins-pole-vault-gold-medal |publisher=[[Yahoo Sports]]|date=23 August 2008 |access-date=24 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825184644/http://au.sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news/article/-/4952294/steve-hooker-wins-pole-vault-gold-medal |archive-date=25 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's pole vault|2009 World Athletics Championships]], in Berlin, Hooker won the gold medal despite a hamstring injury.  On only his second jump, Hooker cleared 5.90&nbsp;metres, to win the gold medal after missing 5.85&nbsp;metres on his first attempt.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hooker wins pole vault gold at worlds |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-08-22-1590710289_x.htm |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Nesha Starcevic |date=22 August 2009 |access-date=26 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827005058/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-08-22-1590710289_x.htm |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://issuu.com/insideathletics/docs/ia10/14?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fdark%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true Hooked on Success] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027135716/http://issuu.com/insideathletics/docs/ia10/14?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fdark%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true |date=27 October 2009 }}. ''Inside Athletics (September 2009 edition)''. [http://www.insideathletics.com.au] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929183428/http://insideathletics.com.au/ |date=29 September 2009 }}. Retrieved 7 October 2009.</ref>

At the [[2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships]], Hooker won the gold medal in the pole vault with a vault of 6.01&nbsp;metres, a championship record.

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

Hooker competed at the [[2012 London Olympics]] and finished 14th after failing to vault a height in the final.<ref name="aa">{{cite web |title=Steven Hooker |url=http://athhistory.sportstg.com/athletes/athlete4466.htm |website=Australian Athletics Historical Results |access-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011130536/http://athhistory.sportstg.com/athletes/athlete4466.htm |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref name=sahof/> On 7 February 2009, at the Boston Indoor Games he set an Australian indoor record with a vault of 6.06m. Both heights were the Australian record at the time of his retirement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steven Hooker |url=https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/australia/steven-hooker-174653 |website=IAAF website |access-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011184219/https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/australia/steven-hooker-174653 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

During his career he was coached by Mark Stewart and Alex Parnov.<ref name=sahof/>

He retired from athletics in April 2014, choosing to focus on his family. His wife [[Yekaterina Kostetskaya]] gave birth to their first son, Maxim, in 2013,<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/pole-vault-steve-hooker-retires Australian pole vault star Steve Hooker retires] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414121330/http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/pole-vault-steve-hooker-retires |date=14 April 2014 }}. IAAF (12 April 2014). Retrieved 13 April 2014.</ref> and the couple have since had two more sons.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.innereastreview.com.au/story/7647354/family-of-athletes-that-hits-the-heights| title=Athletic family hits the heights with love of Richmond|website = Inner East Review| date=14 March 2022|publisher = Australian Community Media|access-date = 7 May 2023}}</ref>

==Honours==
In the [[2009 Australia Day Honours]], Steve Hooker was awarded the [[Medal of the Order of Australia]] (OAM) "For service to sport as a Gold Medallist at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2009/Media%20notes%20OAM%20%28A-E%29%20%28final%29.pdf|website=gg.gov.au|title=Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division (A-E)|access-date=29 July 2022}}</ref><ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1139972 "For service to sport as a Gold Medallist at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412184928/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1139972 |date=12 April 2020 }}, ''It's an Honour'', 26 January 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2013.</ref> In October 2017, Hooker was inducted into the [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]] as an athlete member.<ref name="sahof">{{cite web |title=Steve Hooker's golden record vaults him into Hall of Fame |url=https://sahof.org.au/steve-hookers-golden-record-vaults-him-into-hall-of-fame/|website=Sport Australia Hall of Fame website |date=11 October 2017 |access-date=27 September 2020 }}</ref>
<!-- This section under construction
==AOC Athletes' Commission==
Hooker represents Athletics.

==Life after athletics==
Dancing with the Stars -->

==Personal life==
Hooker attended Greythorn Primary School and [[Balwyn High School]] in [[Balwyn North, Victoria]].

His mother [[Erica Hooker]] was a [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Olympian]] and a [[1978 Commonwealth Games]] [[long jump]] silver medalist. She also won nine national titles. His father Bill represented Australia in the 800&nbsp;m and 4 x 400&nbsp;m at the [[1974 Commonwealth Games]] and won four national crowns.

He began his career with the Box Hill Athletic Club. His career started slowly, and he only went professional in 2006. He relocated to Perth, living on a very modest [[Australian Sports Commission]] allowance.

[[File:Steven Hooker Berlin 2009.JPG|thumb|145px|right|Hooker was emotional after victory at the 2009 World Championships]]

==Summary of athletic achievements==

{| {{AchievementTable}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing {{AUS}}
|-
|2000
|[[2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]] 
|[[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]], [[Chile]]
| 4th
|[[2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Men's pole vault|5.20 m]]
|-
|rowspan=3|2006
|[[Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Melbourne]], Australia
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|[[Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's pole vault|5.80 m]]
|-
|[[2006 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]] 
|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
| 5th
|5.75 m
|-
|[[2006 IAAF World Cup|World Cup]] 
|[[Athens]], Greece
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|5.80 m
|-
|2007
|[[2007 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]] 
|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
|bgcolor=cc9966| 3rd
|5.81 m
|-
|rowspan=2|2008
|[[2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]] 
|[[Valencia, Spain]]
|bgcolor=cc9966| 3rd
|5.80 m
|-
|[[2008 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] 
|[[Beijing]], China
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|5.96 m {{AthAbbr|OR}}
|-
|2009
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Berlin]], [[Germany]]
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|5.90 m
|-
|rowspan=3|2010
|[[2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]] 
|[[Doha]], [[Qatar]]
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|6.01 m {{AthAbbr|CR|IAAF World Indoor Championships}}
|-
|[[2010 IAAF Continental Cup|Continental Cup]] 
|[[Split (city)|Split]], [[Croatia]]
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|5.95 m [[IAAF Continental Cup#Men's records|CR]]
|-
|[[Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[New Delhi]], [[India]]
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|[[Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's pole vault|5.60 m]]
|}
<!-- beaut article, available through newsbank if anybody wants to expand on his 2009 performances/popularity -->

==See also==
* [[6 meters club#Six metres club|6 metres club]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Steve Hooker}}
* {{World Athletics}}
* [http://www.stevehooker.com.au/ Steve Hooker personal website]
* [http://athletics.possumbility.com/athletes/athlete4466.htm Steven Hooker] at Australian Athletics Historical Results
* {{AOC profile}}
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{CGA profile|steve-hooker}}
* {{CGF profile}}
* {{2006 Commonwealth Games profile}}
* {{2010 Commonwealth Games profile|553729}}

{{Olympic Champions Pole Vault (Men)}}
{{Footer World Champions Pole Vault Men}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions Pole Vault Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Pole Vault Men}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cup Champions Pole Vault Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC Pole Vault Men}}
{{Australian Athletes at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics}}
{{Australian Athletes at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hooker, Steve}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Australian male pole vaulters]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Athletes from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for Australia]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships winners]]
[[Category:IAAF Continental Cup winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Sportsmen from Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Australian Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]