Australia's Greatest Athlete
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| Australia's Greatest Athlete | |
|---|---|
| Presented by | Ricky Ponting |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Release | 2009 |
Australia's Greatest Athlete is an Australian television program broadcast on the Nine Network and hosted by Ricky Ponting. It is sponsored by Rexona.
The show pits eight of Australia's most talented athletes against each other in various sporting challenges and events, earning points for their rankings. The overall winner receives money which will then be donated to a charity of their choice. Melbourne Storm and Australian Kangaroos fullback Billy Slater was the overall champion of the first season.
Participants
- Joel Griffiths - Joel is an A-League player, currently on loan to Chinese domestic football (soccer) side Beijing Guoan. He is 29 years old, 77 kilograms and is 181 centimeters tall. The charity he is supporting is Ronald McDonald House.
- Jamie Whincup - Jamie is one of Australia's greatest V8 supercar drivers. He is considered an underdog due to the fact he is involved in the least athletic sport. He is 25 years old, 78 kilograms and is 178 centimeters tall. The charity he is supporting is the Surf Life Saving Foundation.
- Steve Hooker - Steve Hooker is a 2008 Beijing Olympic Games gold medalist in pole vaulting, the first male Australian track and field competitor to win gold since 1968. He is 26 years old, 85 kilograms and 188 centimeters tall.
- Brett Deledio - Brett plays in the AFL with the Richmond Tigers. Multi-skilled, Brett turned down a spot in the Victorian cricket team in his younger years to focus on AFL. He is 21 years old, is 87 kilograms and is 189 centimeters tall. The charity he is supporting is the Marsh Foundation.
- Lote Tuquiri - One of Australia's favorite rugby union players, Tuquiri is considered one of the Wallabies most talented players. He is 29 years old, is 103 kilograms and is 191 centimeters tall. The charity he is supporting is the RSPCA.
- Ky Hurst - Ky is one of Australia's greatest Ironmen. He is the only one to ever win seven Ironman titles. He is 27, weighs 87 kilograms and is 182 centimeters tall. The charity he is supporting is the Kids Help Line.
- Billy Slater - Billy is a star of the NRL, playing with the Melbourne Storm, Maroons and Kangaroos. He is 25, weighs 87 kilograms and is 179 centimeters tall. The charity he is supporting is the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
- Andrew Symonds - Andrew is one of Australia's more popular and controversial cricketers. Considered an all-rounder, Symonds plays for both Australia's Test and One-Day teams. He is 33, weighs 94 kilograms and is 187 centimeters tall. Symonds is also supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Challenges and results
Episode 1
Golf Challenge
1st- Jamie Whincup
Equal 2nd- Billy Slater
Equal 2nd- Lote Tuquiri
Cricket Challenge
1st- Andrew Symonds
2nd- Brett Deledio
3rd- Steve Hooker
Episode 2
Basketball Challenge
1st- Steve Hooker
2nd- Billy Slater
3rd- Brett Deledio
Mini Ironman Challenge
1st- Ky Hurst
2nd- Billy Slater
3rd- Jamie Whincup
Episode 3
1-on-1 try challenge
1st- Billy Slater
2nd- Steve Hooker
3rd- Andrew Symonds
Bench Press
1st- Brett Deledio
2nd- Billy Slater
3rd- Joel Griffiths
Episode 4
40 meter beach sprint
1st- Steve Hooker
2nd- Billy Slater
3rd- Brett Deledio
Dune Buggy Challenge
1st- Jamie Whincup
2nd- Ky Hurst
3rd- Lote Tuquiri
Episode 5
Rock Climbing Challenge
1st- Billy Slater
2nd- Steve Hooker
3rd- Jamie Whincup
High Ball Challenge
1st- Billy Slater
2nd- Brett Deledio
3rd- Andrew Symonds
Episode 6
AFL kicking challenge
1st- Andrew symonds
2nd- Billy Slater
Equal 3rd- Brett Deledio
Equal 3rd- Lote Tuquiri
Equal 3rd- Jamie Whincup
Jet Ski Challenge
1st- Jamie Whincup
2nd- Ky Hurst
3rd- Billy Slater
Final Results
| Position | Athlete | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Billy Slater | 1385 |
| 2nd | Jamie Whincup | 1085 |
| 3rd | Brett Deledio | 1070 |
| 4th | Steve Hooker | 1025 |
| 5th | Andrew Symonds | 1020 |
| 6th | Lote Tuqiri | 975 |
| 7th | Ky Hurst | 960 |
| 8th | Joel Griffiths | 920 |
Trivia
- Andrew Symonds was the oldest athlete
- 10 times out of 12, Billy finished in the top three after the challenges