For Ellie Cole, the end of 2024 was a whirlwind. In August, she made her Olympic debut in Paris and was the top Australian finisher in women’s 10m platform (placing seventh). In November, she finished high school on a high note in Sydney.  A few weeks later, she stood on the junior world championship podium in Brazil, taking silver in 10m synchro. 

At 18, Cole is just getting started.

In a few years, she might be both an Olympic medalist and an aerospace engineer. 

In April, she revealed her love for science and nine other things that make her unique.

Do you know why your parents named you Ellie?

“I was actually named after my parents’ barista, like, one that makes them coffee. They lived together in America, in Hoboken, New Jersey; that’s where I was born. And they had this go-to coffee shop. I don't know which one. The barista was called Elliot, but they called him Ellie for short. It was a guy. I think they just heard the name and they loved it.  I don’t think I’ve met him, because we moved [to Australia] when I was really young.”

Do you have an equally interesting middle name?

“My middle name is Zofia, [spelled] with a zed. It's Ukrainian. It was my great-grandma's name, on my mum’s side, and she was Ukrainian. Unfortunately, I don’t speak the language, but I'd love to learn. I really want to know another language.”

What's your most prized possession?

“I don't think I get attached to inanimate objects, actually. Of course, I love my dog, Buddy. He's so cute. He's a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle.  He’s very young, like 1½, still very immature, still very playful.  He eats socks. He eats socks SO much!  And he visits the vet way too much. He just eats anything in sight so we have to be really careful with what we leave around the house. It's very funny.”

Do you have a motivational song?         

“I've actually never listened to music in competitions so I never wear headphones before I compete. I listen to music, like, when I'm studying, but not in competition. I've always wanted to try it, but just never found the competition that I want to risk making a change like that. I'd rather talk and interact with people so I usually have my coach sitting next to me making jokes. Sometimes it's the physio. It really depends who's available.”

What's your secret talent?

“Ooooh, I don't know if I have a secret talent.  I'm really flexible! I have really flexible hips. So I can put both of my legs above my head, wrap them. I've been able to do that since a really young age. I've never had to train it.”

If you had to choose: karaoke or disco?  

“Oh, karaoke, for sure!  I LOVE karaoke. I love to belt out a good Disney song every once in a while –  something that everyone can sing along to and enjoy as well as me. I know a lot of the words to ‘Moana’ songs and of course the staple: ‘Let It Go.’” 

Remember your first perfect 10?

“I think I've gotten two 10s in my life, but they were both at school diving competitions so I don't know if that counts. One was for a front 2½ pike on 3-meter and one was for a reverse 1½ on 5 meter. I was really excited – especially because I was a platform diver and I got it on 3-meter. I was like, ‘Whoa, this is insane!’  Another time, I was really close to getting one on a reverse 2½  in 10-meter competition in Brisbane, but didn't. The judge actually came up to me afterwards and was like, 'I was gonna give that a 10, but I just didn't.' And I was like, ‘Why not? Why would you tell me that?’”

Your favorite World Aquatics sport (besides diving)?

“Either high diving or synchronized swimming. I love both because I know people in them. In high diving, [four-time world champion] Rhiannan Iffland trains with us in Sydney. She's so amazing. She's so sweet. I really love her. Then, one of my best friends from school does synchronized swimming. I think it's so insane how they can, like, pull their legs out of the water and, like –  I've tried it once, and it's really hard. So much respect for anyone who can do things like that.”

Who's the most inspirational person in your life or your sporting career, and why?

“In my sporting career, [five-time Olympian] Melissa Wu. Her dedication is just astounding. Watching her from a young age really inspired me. She coached me a little bit when I was starting off as an athlete, then we went to Paris together as teammates last year. We trained in the same city, and so training alongside her on the platforms and having a bunch of conversations was really sweet to get to know her as a person as well as an athlete. She's retired but she still follows diving and is very much a part of the diving community. Outside of the pool? Probably my mom, Kate Cole. She's an occupational hygienist and has her own company in Sydney. She's acted as a big role model throughout my entire life. She's very dedicated, very hard working. She never gives up. She always has the right thing to say at the right moment.”

What else is new since the November 2024 junior world championships and the April 2025 World Cups?  

“I walked out of high school with an ATAR score that I'm really proud of. ATAR is a number that you get at the end of school, to get you into university. The highest you can get is 99.95.  I got in the high 90s, so I'm very happy.  It has opened a lot of opportunities for me in terms of my tertiary education. I'm currently deciding what to do with that. I am definitely going to do something in engineering. I’m leaning toward mechanical or aerospace. For now, I’m training, travelling a lot, focusing on diving – and  teaching myself to code.  I was like, ‘I need something to fill the time,’ and I thought coding is pretty beneficial to the degree I want, so I was like, ‘It'd be fun!’”