League legend Billy Slater will enter the second series of Rexona Australia’s Greatest Athlete as the man to beat. As the reigning champion, Slater returns to face seven new competitors with something to prove. “Billy the Kid” has shown that he can handle the pressure of the big stage, and the dual premiership winner will be a formidable force in this year’s competition.
Charity: Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane.
Renowned as the best tagger in the AFL, Ling helped break the Geelong Cats premiership drought in 2007 and is now regarded as the unofficial “Mayor of Geelong”. He has represented his country, won two premierships and was recently named Club Captain for the 2010 season. He will now step up to represent his code in Rexona Australia’s Greatest Athlete.
Charity: Anam Cara House, Geelong
As a three-time V8 Supercar champion, Craig Lowndes is extremely comfortable competing at furious pace. Craig created motor racing history with a trifecta of wins in the iconic Bathurst 1000 from 2006 to 2008. He is looking to further enhance motorsports reputation following Jamie Whincup’s impressive showing in Series 1 and will be out to prove that racing drivers are the equal of any other elite athlete.
Charity: RSPCA
Gold Coast boy James “Rabbit” O’Connor capped off a remarkable beginning to his professional career by being named, Wallabies Rookie of the Year at the 2009 John Eales Medal. The lightning quick back is the second youngest player to represent the Wallabies & scored three tries in his International debut. A prodigious talent, James now faces another challenge, as he attempts to prevail against the more experienced field of athletes in RAGA.
Charity: Youth off the Streets
Jason Culina is part of Australian sporting history. The Gold Coast midfielder was a vital member of the Socceroo squad that qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He featured in all four of Australia’s matches at the tournament. Culina returned from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in 2009, to help “promote the national competition and raise the standard.”
Charity: Nike Red
Matthew Mitcham captured the nation’s imagination at the 2008 Beijing Qlympics, becoming the first Australian male to win an Olympic diving Gold since 1924. What’s more, he achieved this feat with the highest single dive score in Olympic history. Mitcham originally trained as a trampoline gymnast, so his mixture of strength, flexibility and control should make him a formidable competitor across a range of challenges.
Charity: Bobby Goldsmith Foundation
Current and two-time World Ironman champion Shannon Eckstein started in surf life saving at age 12 and has since gone on to dominate the sport. The three-time Australian Ironman champion – and current Australian team Captain - goes into Rexona Australia’s Greatest Athlete as one of the favourites, given his outstanding performance in such a grueling sport.
Charity: Surf Life Saving Foundation
Wendell Sailor’s imposing physique and raw power have guided him through a sporting career which few could match. The dual international began playing football at the age of 8, before turning professional in 1993. In that time, “Big Dell” has won four Rugby League premierships, 3 State of Origin titles, a Rugby League World Cup (2000) & been capped for the Wallabies on 37 occasions.
Charity: Joanne McKay Breast Cancer