Given name: Rafael
Family name: Sterk
Date of birth:27/01/1978
City of birth: Adelaide
Height:185cm
Weight:87kg
Marital status: Single
Home town and State: Brisbane, Qld
Higher education: bachelor
Course: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Institution: Adelaide University
Occupation: Project Engineer
Age when began competing in your sport: 14
Where did you begin competing: Adelaide
Cap number: 1
Playing position: Goalkeeper
Handedness: right
Major achievements:
4th, FINA World Junior Championships, Dunkirk, France, 1995
4th, FINA World Junior Championships, Havana, Cuba, 1997
11th, World Student Games, Majorca, Spain, 1999
8th, Olympic Games, Sydney Australia, 2000
10th, FINA World Championships, Fukuoka, Japan, 2001
2nd, Commonwealth Championships, Manchester, England, 2002
9th, Olympic Games, Athens, Greece, 2004
3rd, FINA World League Super Finals, Genoa, Italy, 2008
8th, Olympic Games, Beijing, China, 2008
Nickname: Rafo
Hobbies: collecting marbles
Any major injuries that have affected your competition: no
Any superstitions or rituals before competition: remember to put my bathers on
Most memorable sporting achievement: 2000 Olympic Games
What made you choose this sport: A good looking first coach at school
Who is the most influential person in your sporting career and why: Rocky Balboa. Because he packs a punch.
Which person do you most look up to in your sporting career and why: Gavin Woods. Because he’s taller than me.
What are your ambitions both during and after your sporting career: To win every game & to win Australian Idol.
List any major honours and awards: Australia Sports Award 2000.
No of internationals played: 166

Updated September 1, 2008