Given name: Gavin
Family name: Woods
Date of birth: 01/03/78
City of birth: Sydney
Height: 200cm
Weight: 95kg
Marital status: Single
Home town and State: Sydney, NSW
Club/team: Balmain Tigers, Sydney, Australia; CN Barcelona, Spain
Higher education: Higher School Certificate
Course: O10 (correspondence TAFE)
Institution: NSW TAFE, Sydney, Australia
Occupation: Student/Athlete
Age when began competing in your sport: 12
Where did you begin competing: Balmain
Cap number: 10
Playing position: Centre back
Handedness: Right
Major achievements:
2nd, Australian National League, 1994
2nd, Australian National League, 1995
4th, FINA World Junior Championships, Dunkirk, France, 1995
4th, FINA World Junior Championships, Havana, Cuba, 1997
4th, FINA World Championships, Perth, Australia, 1998
8th, FINA World Cup, Sydney, Australia, 1999
8th, Olympic Games, Sydney, Australia, 2000
10th, FINA World Championships, Fukuoka, Japan, 2001
2nd Commonwealth Championships, Manchester, England, 2002
7th, FINA World Championships, Barcelona, Spain, 2003
3rd, World Student Games, Daegu, South Korea, 2003
4th, FINA World League Super Finals, Athens, Greece, 2006�
10th, FINA World Championships, Melbourne, Australia, 2007
3rd, FINA World League Super Finals, Genoa, Italy, 2008
8th, Olympic Games, Beijing, China, 2008
Nickname: Woodsy, Goodsy
Hobbies: Relaxing, music, trying to play golf.
Any major injuries that have affected your competition: Eardrum skin graft.
Any superstitions or rituals before competition: No
Most memorable sporting achievement: Representing my country at the Olympic Games.
Any other sport played at an international level: No
Any relatives/spouses who have competed internationally: Yes
If so, who and what sports: Father David is a three-time water polo Olympian 1964-72 and former coach of the Australian women's team 1991-1994; Sister Taryn Woods is a 1995 World Cup water polo champion and 2000 Olympic champion; cousin Bronwyn Smith (nee Mayer) is a 1995 World Cup water polo champion and 2000 Olympic champion. The latter two are 2003 World Champs players.
Any relatives/spouses who are famous internationally: Not besides the water polo.
What made you choose this sport: The sport runs in the family so as soon as I could swim and throw a ball.
Who is the most influential person in your sporting career and why: My father. Knowing he had done it before and alsways having welcome advice.
What are your ambitions both during and after your sporting career: Obviously to win an Olympic medal, & have a life after water polo.
List any major honours and awards:
Player of the Tournament, Hannover Cup, 1999
Player of the Year, Australian National league, 2000
AIS Sports Star of the Month, 1995
No of internationals played: 269

Updated September 1 2008