Sporting legends
Wally Lewis
1. Wally Lewis
Rugby league immortal, 'The King' and 'Emperor of Lang Park', Wally Lewis led Queensland's dominance over New South Wales in State of Origin in the 1980s, represented Australia 33 times, captained the national side from 1984 to 1988, and was recently named as five-eighth in Australia's Team of the Century.
2. Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman won the hearts of all Australians when she won gold in the 400m sprint at the 2000 Sydney Games, and where she also lit the Olympic flame. She also won two gold medals in the 400m at the IAAF World Championships in Seville in 1999 and Athens in 1997.
3. Pat Rafter
Former World No.1 tennis player Pat Rafter won back-to-back US Open singles titles in 1997 and 1998 and has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Sport Australia Hall of Fame. He was named Australian of the Year in 2002.
4. Rod Laver
Rockhampton born 'Rocket' Rod Laver is the only man to win the tennis Grand Slam (Australian, French and US Opens and Wimbledon) not once, but twice - in 1962 and 1969.
5. Allan Border
Allan Border, or 'AB', played 156 tests for Australia, and was Australia's Test Cricket captain from 1984 to 1994. AB's unbeaten record of 11,174 test runs for Australia included 27 centuries. AB also played for Queensland from 1980 to 1996, and helped the Bulls win their historic first Sheffield Shield at the Gabba in 1995.
6. Greg Norman
'The Shark' Greg Norman was a dominating figure in world golf during the 1980s and 90s, winning two British Open titles and spending 331 weeks as the world's number one player. He has a total of 91 career victories so far.
7. Susie O'Neill
'Madame Butterfly' Susie O'Neill won the 200m butterfly at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 200m freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
8. Dick Johnson
One of Australia's greatest racing car drivers, Dick Johnson is a five-time Australian Touring Car Champion and three-time winner of the Bathurst 1000, winning more than 20 awards and honours in his career. He also twice won the Sandown 500 Endurance Event.
9. Allan Langer
One of rugby league's great half-backs, Allan 'Alfie' Langer played for the Brisbane Broncos from 1988-1999, and again in 2002, winning four premierships with the club, and playing in 34 State of Origin games for Queensland and 23 for Australia, captaining the national side in 1998.
10. Gunsynd
The Australian champion racehorse, affectionately known as the Goondiwindi Grey, won 29 races from 54 starts from 1969 to 1973, including the prestigious Cox Plate in 1972.
11. Mal Meninga
Bundaberg born Mal Meninga played more games and scored more points than any other Australian Kangaroo, is the top-point scorer for Queensland in State of Origin history, and was named as centre in Australia's Team of the Century.
12. Grant Hackett
Former captain of the Australian swimming team, Queenslander Grant Hackett won gold in the 1500 metres freestyle race at both the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games, and won a total 10 World Championship gold medals.
13. Matthew Hayden
Recently retired Queensland cricket great Matt Hayden scored 8,625 runs in test cricket, including 30 centuries, with the left-handed opener still holding the record for the highest scores made by an Australian batsman in both the Test (380) and One Day International (181 not out) arenas.
14. Kieren Perkins
One of the world's best-ever long-distance swimmers, Brisbane boy and official Australian Living Treasure, Kieren Perkins won Olympic gold in 1992 and 1996 in the 1500-metre freestyle, and a silver medal in 2000.
15. Mick Doohan
Considered one of the best motorcycle road racers in the sport's history, world champion Mick Doohan won five consecutive 500 cc World Championships from 1994 to 1998, second only to Italian Giacomo Agostini.
The inclusion of a person, event, invention or place on the Q150 icons list is not intended to offend or upset any individual member or groups of the public nor does it constitute an endorsement or affiliation by Q150, the State of Queensland, their officers, employees or agents with that person, event, invention, place, or any affiliated product or service.
Last reviewed 4 June 2009
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