The Most Famous Athlete in Australia, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the athlete you think is the most famous!

Updated on Apr 24, 2024 08:09

Fans often have discussions about who the most famous athlete in Australia is, leading to varying opinions and lively debates. It can be a challenge to reach a consensus without a comprehensive system to gather the public's views on this matter. By providing a platform where people can vote for their favorite athletes, the subjectivity often found in such discussions can be diluted, offering a clearer picture based on popular opinion. This system not only allows supporters to engage actively with the sport but also helps new enthusiasts to understand which athletes are currently capturing the nation's attention. Voting on such a system can be very impactful, potentially influencing media coverage and sponsorship considerations for athletes. It also brings fans together in a shared community activity, highlighting the unity and enthusiasm that sports can foster among Australians.

Who Is the Most Famous Athlete in Australia?

1

67
votes
Jason Pini/AusAID · CC BY 2.0

Cathy Freeman

Freeman is one of Australia's most successful track and field athletes, winning a gold medal in the 400m sprint at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She also won two Commonwealth Games gold medals and was the flag bearer for the Australian team at the 1994 and 2000 Olympics.
Cathy Freeman in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous Aboriginal
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous person in Papua New Guinea
- Position 6 of 10 in Most famous person in Victoria
2

33
votes
Doha Stadium Plus Qatar from Doha, Qatar · CC BY 2.0

Ian Thorpe

Thorpe is a former Olympic swimmer who won five gold, three silver, and one bronze medal during his career. He also broke 22 world records and was named World Swimmer of the Year four times.
Ian Thorpe in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous swimmer in Australia
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous male swimmer
3

27
votes

Evers, Joost / Anefo · CC0

Rod Laver

Laver is a former tennis player who won 11 Grand Slam singles titles during his career, including two calendar-year Grand Slams. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981.
4

19
votes
Ansa · Public domain

Dawn Fraser

Fraser is a former Olympic swimmer who won eight medals, including four gold, during her career. She also set 27 world records and was the first woman to swim the 100m freestyle in under a minute.
Dawn Fraser in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous swimmer in Australia
5

16
votes
Tourism Victoria from Australia · CC BY 2.0

Shane Warne

Warne is a former cricketer who is regarded as one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time. He took 708 test wickets and was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1994.
Shane Warne in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous cricket player in Australia
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous person in Melbourne
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous person in Victoria
- Position 8 of 10 in Most famous cricket player
6

13
votes

Bidgee · CC BY-SA 3.0 au

Lauren Jackson

Jackson is a former basketball player who won three Olympic silver medals and was named WNBA MVP three times. She is also a four-time Olympian and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
7

11
votes
Steven Newton · CC BY 2.0

Greg Norman

Greg Norman

Norman is a former golfer who won two Open Championships and was ranked the world's number one golfer for 331 weeks. He is also a successful business entrepreneur and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
The Greg Norman golf shirt is a popular brand known for its high-quality and stylish design. It is designed to provide maximum comfort and performance on the golf course while maintaining a sophisticated appearance.

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Greg Norman in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous Greg
8

6
votes
Koch, Eric for Anefo · CC BY-SA 3.0 nl

Margaret Court

Court is a former tennis player who won 24 Grand Slam singles titles during her career, which is a record for men and women. She also won 19 Grand Slam doubles titles and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979.
Margaret Court in other rankings
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous female tennis player
9

6
votes
self · CC BY-SA 2.5

Michael Clarke

Clarke is a former cricketer who captained the Australian cricket team and won the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. He scored 8,643 runs in test cricket and was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2010.
Michael Clarke in other rankings
- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous cricket player in Australia
10

8
votes

Erik van Leeuwen · GFDL

Sally Pearson

Pearson is a former Olympic hurdler who won gold in the 100m hurdles at the 2012 London Olympics. She also won two Commonwealth Games gold medals and was named IAAF World Athlete of the Year in 2011.

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Ranking factors for famous athlete

Achievements

Their accomplishments and records in their respective sport
Popularity

Their level of popularity among the Australian public and fans worldwide.
Endorsements

The number and value of the athlete's commercial endorsements.
Social media presence

the athlete's followers and engagement on social media like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Longevity and consistency

The athlete's performance over their career, including sustained success and longevity in their sport.
Impact outside of their sport

The athlete's contributions to society and charity work outside of their sports career.
Global recognition

The athlete's recognition and success on a global scale, including in international competitions such as the Olympics or World Championships.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous athlete in Australia. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or athlete is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

3570 views
196 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each athlete once every 24 hours. The rank of each athlete is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous athlete in australia

Australia is a country known for its love of sports, and its athletes have achieved impressive feats in various disciplines. From cricket to rugby, swimming to tennis, Australian athletes have excelled at the highest levels of competition. It's no surprise then that when it comes to the title of the most famous athlete in Australia, there are plenty of contenders. Some have achieved international fame and recognition, while others are national heroes who are household names in their home country. In this article, we'll explore the top candidates for the title of Australia's most famous athlete and examine what makes them stand out from the rest.