Greatest Australian Olympians

Olympic Wreath Here is our list of what we think are the greatest Australian Olympic Champions, in no particular order:

Dawn Fraser — Dawn won gold medals in the 100m freestyle at the Games in 1956, 1960, and 1964, and in doing so was also the first swimmer to win the same event in three consecutive Olympics. She won a total of four gold medals.
Shirley Strickland — Shirley won seven Olympic medals, including three gold medals: 80 meter hurdles twice (1952, 1956) and the 4x100 meter relay (1956). She has won the most Olympic medals for any Australian in Athletics, and was the first Australian woman to win an Olympic medal in Athletics.
Nova Peris — first Aboriginal Australian to win a gold medal, in Field Hockey in 1996.
Cathy Freeman — Cathy was the first Aboriginal Australian to win a gold medal in an individual event (400 meter run).
Shane Gould — she won three gold medals in 1972: in the 200 meter individual medley, 400 meter freestyle, and 200 meter freestyle. She was only 15 years old at the time.
Marjorie Jackson — first Australian woman to win an Olympic gold medal (100 meter dash in 1952).
Edwin Flack — Edwin (Teddy) was the first Australian gold medallist, winning the 800 m and 1,500 m run at the first Games in 1896.
Ian Thorpe — Thorpey won gold medals in swimming in the 2000 and 2004 Games.
Sarah Durack — she was the first Australian woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics (1912 - 100 meter freestyle).

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