Ten Greatest Moments In Australian Sport

With the imminent airing of a groundbreaking new documentary on Cathy Freeman’s epic victory in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics, I thought I’d take a look at some of the other moments in Australian sporting history that thrilled, inspired and overwhelmed us.

1. Cathy Freeman’s Other Gold Medal

Everyone remembers the famous 400m run, but often overlooked is the fact that Freeman won another gold medal just two years later, at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, in the biathlon.

2. Don Bradman Kills A Swan

The 1936/37 Ashes were a triumph for new Australian captain Don Bradman, who scored a mountain of runs and led his team to a stirring series victory despite losing the first two tests. But the most glorious moment of a glorious summer came during the final test at the MCG, when Bradman, having just passed 150 in the first innings, produced a revolver from his pocket and celebrated the milestone by shooting a swan that had been circling over the ground. The roar from the crowd as the magnificent bird thudded lifelessly onto the pitch on a good length was deafening, and the umpires knighted Bradman on the spot.

3. Phar Lap’s Stunning Discovery

Phar Lap’s life was tragically curtailed in 1932 when he died at the age of five of a broken heart after a disappointing love affair. This deprived us of many more spectacular victories on the international circuit, but fortunately a few weeks before his death, “Big Red”…