Australian Sporting History

By TomHeff
  • Jimmy Carruthers became the first Australian to win a boxing World Championship

    Jimmy Carruthers became the first Australian to win a boxing World Championship

    James William (Jimmy) Carruthers (1929-1990), boxer, was born on 5 July 1929 at Paddington, Sydney, fifth of eight children of English parents John William Carruthers, labourer, and his wife Agnes Jane, née Allison.
  • Teenagers Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall leading Australia to victory against the United States in the Davis Cup Final at Kooyong in Melbourne.

    Teenagers Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall leading Australia to victory against the United States in the Davis Cup Final at Kooyong in Melbourne.

    Hoad won four Grand Slam tournaments as an amateur, and won the 1959 Tournament of Champions as a professional. Kenneth Robert (born 2 November 1934) is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia.
  • Peter Thomson becoming the first Australian to win the British Open. Thomson went on to win five Open titles.

    Peter Thomson becoming the first Australian to win the British Open. Thomson went on to win five Open titles.

    Thomson was born in Brunswick, Australia. His Open Championship wins came in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1965. He was the only man to win the tournament for three consecutive years in the 20th century.
  • Herb Elliott winning the gold medal in the Men’s 1500-metre at the 1960 Rome Olympics in a world record time lowering his previous world record.

    Herb Elliott winning the gold medal in the Men’s 1500-metre at the 1960 Rome Olympics in a world record time lowering his previous world record.

    Elliott was born on 25 February 1938 in Perth, Western Australia.He attended CBC Perth and later moved to Aquinas College.
  • The first Tied Test was played between the Australia and West Indies at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as "The Gabba".

    The first Tied Test was played between the Australia and West Indies at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as "The Gabba".

    A tied Test is a Test cricket match in which the side batting second is bowled out for the second time, with scores level. This is a very rare result; only two ties have occurred in the 2,000 Tests played since 1877. The first was in 1960
  • At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Dawn Fraser became the first swimmer to win three successive Olympic swimming gold medals in the same event by winning the Women’s 100-metre Freestyle.

    At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Dawn Fraser became the first swimmer to win three successive Olympic swimming gold medals in the same event by winning the Women’s 100-metre Freestyle.

    She was named the Australian of the Year in 1964, was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1965, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1967,
  • Margaret Court becoming the first woman during the open era (and the second woman in history) to win the singles Grand Slam (all four major tournaments in the same calendar year)

    Margaret Court becoming the first woman during the open era (and the second woman in history) to win the singles Grand Slam (all four major tournaments in the same calendar year)

    n 1970 Court became the first woman during the open era (and the second woman in history) to win the singles Grand Slam
  • Carlton Football Club staged one of the greatest comebacks in Victorian Football League (VFL) history by defeating Collingwood in the Grand Final. During the game, Alex Jesaulenko took what is arguably the greatest mark in Grand Final history.

    Carlton Football Club staged one of the greatest comebacks in Victorian Football League (VFL) history by defeating Collingwood in the Grand Final. During the game, Alex Jesaulenko took what is arguably the greatest mark in Grand Final history.

    the sporting rivalry between the Carlton and Collingwood Football Clubs is the biggest and longest lasting rivalry in the Australian Football League (AFL).
  • The Centenary Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground had many memorable moments including David Hookes scoring blitz against the bowling of Tony Greig.

    The Centenary Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground had many memorable moments including David Hookes scoring blitz against the bowling of Tony Greig.

    Centenary Test refers to two matches of Test cricket played between the English cricket team and the Australian cricket team, the first in 1977 and the second in 1980.
  • Robert de Castella courageous win in the marathon at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

    Robert de Castella courageous win in the marathon at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

    De Castella is widely known as "Deek" or "Deeks" to the Australian public, and "Tree" to his competitors due to his thick legs and inner calm. He holds the Oceanian record for the marathon
  • Australia II skippered by John Bertrand defeating Dennis Conner’s Liberty to win the America's Cup .

    Australia II skippered by John Bertrand defeating Dennis Conner’s Liberty to win the America's Cup .

    Australia II is an Australian 12-metre-class America's Cup challenge racing yacht that was launched in 1982 and won the 1983 America's Cup for the Royal Perth Yacht Club.
  • Australia defeating arch-rivals England to claim their first Cricket World Cup

    Australia defeating arch-rivals England to claim their first Cricket World Cup

    The 1987 Cricket World Cup (also known as the Reliance World Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the fourth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament.
  • Leg spin bowler Shane Warne bowling England's Mike Gatting with his first ball in the 1st Ashes Test

    Leg spin bowler Shane Warne bowling England's Mike Gatting with his first ball in the 1st Ashes Test

    The Ball of the Century, also referred to as the Gatting Ball[1] or simply That Ball,[2] is the name given to a cricket delivery bowled by Australian spin bowler Shane Warne to English batsman Mike Gatting on Day Two during the first Test of the 1993 Ashes series
  • Kieren Perkins, the reigning Olympic champion, scraping into the final of the Men’s 1500-metre Freestyle at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

    Kieren Perkins, the reigning Olympic champion, scraping into the final of the Men’s 1500-metre Freestyle at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

    Kieren John Perkins, OAM (born 14 August 1973) is an Australian former competition swimmer, four-time Olympic medalist and former world record-holder in three events.
  • Australia tied with South Africa in Cricket World Cup 2nd semi-final.

    Australia tied with South Africa in Cricket World Cup 2nd semi-final.

    The second semi-final of the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup was a famous cricket match played between South Africa and Australia on 17 June 1999 at Edgbaston, England. Australia went on to beat Pakistan in the final on 20 June.
  • Cathy Freeman becoming Australia's first indigenous individual gold medalist by winning the Women’s 400-metre at the Sydney Olympics.

    Cathy Freeman becoming Australia's first indigenous individual gold medalist by winning the Women’s 400-metre at the Sydney Olympics.

    Catherine Astrid Salome "Cathy" Freeman, OAM (born 16 February 1973) is an Australian former sprinter, who specialised in the 400 metres event. She would occasionally compete in other track events, but 400m was her main event.
  • At the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, freestyle skier Alisa Camplin became Australia's first female to win a Gold Medal at the Winter Olympics by winning the Women's Aerials.

    At the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, freestyle skier Alisa Camplin became Australia's first female to win a Gold Medal at the Winter Olympics by winning the Women's Aerials.

    Alisa Peta Camplin OAM[2] (born 10 November 1974) is an Australian aerial skier who won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the second ever winter Olympic gold medal for Australia.
  • The Socceroos defeating Uruguay at Stadium Australia to qualify for the 2006 FIFA Cup.

    The Socceroos defeating Uruguay at Stadium Australia to qualify for the 2006 FIFA Cup.

    The 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament, Australia, and the fifth-placed team from the South American qualifying tournament, Uruguay. It still remains as the only match where a country has qualified for the FIFA World Cup Finals on a penalty shoot out.
  • Black Caviar setting a new Australasian record of 20 straight wins from 20 starts. She retired in 2013 with 25 consecutive wins.

    Black Caviar setting a new Australasian record of 20 straight wins from 20 starts. She retired in 2013 with 25 consecutive wins.

    Black Caviar (foaled 18 August 2006) is a retired Australian Thoroughbred racehorse undefeated in 25 races, including 15 Group One victories, eclipsing the previous mark set by Kingston Town. She was named WTRR World Champion Sprinter in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Black Caviar was trained by Melbourne-based trainer Peter Moody,
  • Socceroos defeating South Korea 2-1 to win the Asian Cup for the first time.

    Socceroos defeating South Korea 2-1 to win the Asian Cup for the first time.

    Australia won its first ever Asian Cup title with a nervy and dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over South Korea at Stadium Australia in Sydney. James Troisi etched his name in Australian football history with the winner late in extra-time, lashing home from close range after superb work on the byline from Tomi Juric.
  • Michelle Payne in riding Prince of Penzance became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup

    Michelle Payne in riding Prince of Penzance became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup

    Michelle Payne (born 29 September 1985) is an Australian jockey. She won the 2015 Melbourne Cup, riding Prince of Penzance, and was the first female jockey to win the event.