Sports
Editors: Anastasia Santoreneos
Photography: Cameron Grayson/Supplied
Judges: Kelly Ryan, Jeff Browne
Ariarne Titmus
Age: 23
Nicknamed the Terminator, Ariarne Titmus is an Australian Olympic swimmer. Tasmanian-born Titmus moved to Queensland in 2015 to pursue better training opportunities – and it paid off. She made her Olympics Debut in 2020, where she won two golds, one silver, and one bronze medal. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, she won gold for the women’s 400m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay. She took out silver just behind Molly O’Callaghan in the 200m freestyle. She currently holds world records in the 200m and 400m freestyle events.
Mary Fowler
Age: 20
Mary Fowler is a soccer player for Manchester City and the Matildas. She debuted with the Tillies in 2018, and was the youngest member of the 2019 squad at just 16-years-old. She signed her first overseas contract with Montpellier HSC, spending two seasons in France before inking a four-year contract with Manchester City in the Women’s Super League. Cairns-born Fowler shot to stardom in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, playing an integral role in the team’s run to secure fourth. She’s earned 55 caps and scored 15 goals. This year, she headed to the Olympics with the Matildas, but the team were knocked out in group stages. Fowler also won PFA Footballer of the Year in 2022 and again in 2024.
Oscar Piastri
Age: 22
Oscar Piastri is an Australian racer driving for the multi world championship-winnign McLaren Formula 1 Team, after making his debut in 2023. Piastri, who graduated from karting to junior formulae in 2016, won his first championship in 2019: The Fomula Renault Eurocup Championship. He went on to win two more consecutive championships: the 2020 FIA F3 Championship, and 2021 FIA F2 Championship. He’s the 15th Australian to have ever started an F1 Grand Prix. As of the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Piastri has achieved two race wins, three fastest laps and six podiums in Formula One. He’s set to remain with McLaren until at least the end of 2026.
Jess Fox
Age: 29
Born in France and raised in Sydney, Jessica Fox is the most successful paddler (male or female) in history. After making her Olympic debut at the London Games in 2012 as an 18-year-old, where she won silver, she won gold to become Olmypic champion at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020. This year, Fox took out two gold medals at the Paris Olympics in the Women’s Slalom K1 and Women’s Slalom C1. She is the first Australian canoe slalom athlete to compete at four Olympics – and was the flag bearer for this year’s Games.