From cyclists to sailboarders, swimmers to cricketers, the Illawarra has long been a breeding ground for some of Australia’s finest sporting stars.
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The Mercury is taking a trip down memory lane to celebrate some of the region’s most successful athletes.
Olympians and world record holders have all called the Illawarra home, as they climbed the ladder in their respective sports.
And while some of our sporting heroes have hung up their boots, many are still doing us proud at a national and international level.
AARON DONNELLY
Age: 22
Sport: Cycling
Junior Club: Illawarra Cycling Club
Career Highlight: Gold at Australia under-19s level
After winning gold in Australian under-19 track and road cycling events throughout 2008 and 2009, Donnelly had a horror run over three years with injury and illness. Now back on the bike, Donnelly won the opening stage of this year’s Jayco Herald Sun Tour where he would eventually finish second overall. He now rides for the Huan Salmon Genesys Pro Cycling Team.
ADAM FEDERICI
Age: 28
Sport: Football
Junior Club: Huskisson Seagulls
Career Highlight: Making the 2010 Australian World Cup squad
Considered one of Australia’s best shot stoppers, Federici moved to England to play with Wolverhampton in 2003. Two years later he joined Reading and has since become the team’s first choice goalkeeper in the English Premier League. Federici has played for the Socceroos at youth and senior levels and was a member of the 2010 World Cup squad.
ADAM ZAMPA
Age: 21
Sport: Cricket
Junior Club: Warilla
Career Highlight: Winning the Under 19 World Cup with Australia in 2010.
Zampa started his career down in Warilla as a teenager with future NSW teammate Nic Maddinson. The leg spinner, whose action is compared to that of Shane Warne, made his debut for the NSW Blues against Queensland in 2012, taking five wickets. Zampa played with the Sydney Thunder in the 20/20 Big Bash before signing a deal with South Australia in April. The leg spinner will now play all forms of cricket with the Redbacks and Strikers.
AIDEN RILEY
Age: 21
Sport: AFL
Junior Club: Wollongong Lions
Career Highlight: AFL debut against Port Adelaide
Riley made his debut for the Wollongong Lions as a 16-year-old in the Sydney AFL and immediately caught the eye of scouts. The Adelaide Crows put Riley on a NSW recruit scholarship before signing full time in 2010. With the ability to play as a midfielder or defender, Riley made his debut in the AFL the following year against Port Adelaide and has now played 10 games for the Crows.
BEN KERSTEN
Age: 31
Sport: Cycling
Junior Club: Illawarra Academy of Sport
Career Highlight: 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in the ITT
Starting his cycling career at the age of 11, Kersten won countless junior national titles on the track in sprinting and time trials. He won the Junior World Championship on the track for the time trial in Cuba (1998) and Greece (1999). Kersten continued to succeed when he entered the senior ranks on the track, winning Australian titles in Sprint, Keirin and Time Trial disciplines as well as representing Australia at the 2000 Olympic Games. He now rides as a road cyclist for Fly V Australia.
BRETT DUPREZ
Age: 38
Sport: Lawn Bowls
Junior Club: Albion Park
Career Highlight: 1998 Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in Pairs with Mark Jacobsen
Duprez had a successful international career over 11 years, with more than 150 games for Australia. He played for his country for four years in the under-25s before making the senior team in 1998 at the age of 23. Duprez eventually competed in two Commonwealth Games and two World Championships during his illustrious career and was a member of the World Championship Australian side, which won gold in Johannesburg in 2000. Duprez retired in August 2005 and now serves as a board member for Bowls Australia. He was this year inducted into the Hall of Fame.
BRETT LEE
Age: 36
Sport: Cricket
Junior Club: Oak Flats Rats
Career Highlight: 2008 Allan Border Medal and 2006 Wisden Cricketer of the Year
The right-arm quick will go down as one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history. Lee made his NSW debut in the 1997-98 season, with a Test and ODI call-up quick to follow in 1999-2000. He retired with 310 Test wickets, 380 ODI wickets and was the first player to get a hattrick in a 20-20 international. As a lower order batsman Lee was handier than most, scoring numerous Test and ODI half centuries. He is now a commentator for the Nine Network’s cricket coverage.
BRETT STEWART
Age: 28
Sport: Rugby League
Junior Club: Wests
Career Highlight: 2008 and 2011 NRL Grand Final wins
A NSW and Australian representative, Stewart is one of rugby league’s finest try-scorers. The fullback has played more than 150 games for the Manly Sea Eagles alongside his brother Glenn. He was a member of both the Sea Eagles’ grand final winning squads in 2008 and 2011 and remains an attacking presence in their starting line-up.
CASEY EASTHAM
Age: 24
Sport: Field Hockey
Junior Club: Albion Park
Career Highlight: 2010 Commonwealth Games Gold
Eastham has played over 150 times for the Hockeyroos and has scored more than 30 international goals. She represented Australia at under-21 level in 2005 as a 16-year-old, before debuting for the Hockeyroos as a 17-year-old in the Four Nations Tournament. Since then she has played for Australia at both the London and Beijing Olympics and continues to be a valued member of the Hockeyroos.
DAN PALMER
Age: 24
Sport: Rugby
Junior Club: Kiama
Career Highlight: Debuting for the Wallabies in 2012
Palmer played as a prop for Southern Districts in the Sydney Shute Shield competition before getting the attention on the Waratahs in 2008. He then moved to the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby and made his debut for the Wallabies in 2012. Considered as one of the most technically sound tighthead props in Australia, Palmer decided to move his rugby career overseas in 2014 by signing with French club Grenoble.
DARREN MERCER
Age: 47
Sport: Ironman
Junior Club: Thirroul
Career Highlight: Winning the 1995 Ironman title
Mercer won back-to-back Mercury Sports Star of the Year awards in 1988-89 in a dominant era of Australia Ironman. He was virtually unbeatable in the late 1980s and into the 90s, taking multiple Australian Ironman titles and winning the Coolangatta Gold in 1992.
DAVID McKEON
Age: 20
Sport: Swimming
Junior Club: Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club
Career Highlight: Making the 2012 London Olympics team
After only taking up the sport seriously three years ago, the Wollongong swimmer immediately showed his talent in the pool by winning a string of World Cup medals in 2011. The son of two-time Olympian Ron McKeon qualified for the London Games in the 400m freestyle and 4x200m relay. McKeon finished fifth in his heat at the Games, while Australia failed to medal in the relay. Not to be deterred by his Olympic performance, McKeon continued to train hard and was rewarded this year when he defended his Australian title in his pet event. The Wests Illawarra product stopped the clock at 3min 43.71sec, making him the third fastest Australian of all time in the 400m.
DEAN MERCER
Age: 43
Sport: Ironman
Junior Club: Thirroul
Career Highlight: Australian Ironman title
When Mercer retired in 2009, he was a legend of Ironman. The Thirroul junior took out the numerous titles in the sport while competing against his brother Darren. Mercer has twice finished on the podium in Ironman’s most iconic race, the Coolangatta Gold.
DYLAN LONGBOTTOM
Age: 39
Sport: Surfing
Junior Club: Kiama Downs
Career Highlight: XXL Biggest Wave Award
The former South Coast surfer is considered one of the best big wave surfers around the globe. In 2003, Longbottom won the best manoeuvre of the year award from Surfer Magazine when he executed a backflip on a wave in Indonesia. He continued to collect accolades around the world, winning the Monster Tube Award in 2005 and XXL Biggest Wave Award in 2006.
EMMA McKEON
Age: 19
Sport: Swimming
Junior Club: Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club
Career Highlight: Qualifying for the 2013 Barcelona World Championships
Like her father Ron and brother David, Emma has always showed a great deal of talent in the pool. In 2011 as a 17-year-old, McKeon won three gold medals at the FINA World Cup series, defeating 50m World Champion Therese Alshammer in the process. The West Illawarra swimmer would narrowly miss out on qualification for the 2012 London Games, but bounced back the following year when she qualified for the World Championships in Barcelona for the 4x200m freestyle.
GAYE KOLSKY
Age: 40
Sport: Indoor Hockey
Junior Club: Figtree Hockey Club
Career Highlight: Captaining Australia
Kolsky served as captain of Australia in indoor hockey throughout the mid-90s, and would continue to do so up until the inaugural indoor hockey World Cup in Germany in 2003. Towards the end of her career Kolsky took up coaching, taking charge of the side she had captained for many years.
GLENN STEWART
Age: 29
Sport: Rugby League
Junior Club: Wests
Career Highlight: Clive Churchill Medal in 2011 Grand Final
The second rower has been known as one of the NRL’s premier enforcers since arriving in the league 2003. Playing for the Manly Sea Eagles in the 2008 and 2011 grand final wins, Stewart is the older brother of teammate Brett. The Wests junior has played representative football for both the Blues and Kangaroos and remains an integral part of the Sea Eagles’ 2013 campaign.
JACKSON LAW
Age: 20
Sport: Cycling
Junior Club: Illawarra Cycling Club
Career Highlight: Junior Track World Championship Gold Medals
Jackson Law has always been a bright shining star in the track cycling world, winning national titles in the under 15’s, 17’s and 19’s. The cyclist traveled in the green and gold for the first time in 2010 when he competed at the UCI Junior Track World Championships. He would secure a gold medal at the event in the Team Pursuit before winning the Madison in 2011.
JARROD POORT
Age: 18
Sport: Swimming
Junior Club: Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club
Career Highlight: Making 2012 London Olympic Team
Poort qualified for the Olympics in the 1500m after slashing 11 seconds off his personal best time at the selection trials. He finished seventh in his heat on his Games debut, cementing his place as a swimmer of the future for Australia. Poort will compete at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona later this year after winning the Australian Open Water 5km race by less than a second. He took bronze earlier in the meet in the 10km event.
JOEL DIGGINS
Age: 24
Sport: Rugby Union
Junior Club: Vikings
Career Highlight: Representing England at under 16 school level
Diggins left Australian Shores as a teenager to improve his rugby game in England’s schoolboy competition. In an unexpected twist, the second rower turned prop was selected to play for England in an under-16 school competition. Diggins returned to Australia in 2005 with dreams of playing for Australia, but had to be content plying his trade with his junior team, Vikings. Diggins continues to play for the Vikings as well as NSW Country.
JOSH KERSTEN
Age: 39
Sport: Cycling
Junior Club: Illawarra Academy of Sport
Career Highlight: Gold at the Junior World Championships
Kersten won the Mercury Sports Star of the Year award in 1995 after winning Gold in the 1km time trial at the Junior World Championships in San Marino. The older brother of fellow cyclist Ben, Kersten had a career-long rivalry on the track with fellow cyclist Shane Kelly. Kersten defeated Kelly in the time trial of the 1999 national championships after losing to him at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. He eventually claimed a bronze medal in Kuala Lumpur.
KAREN MURPHY
Age: 38
Sport: Lawn Bowls
Junior Club: Shell Cove
Career Highlight: World Championships Singles Gold in 2012
In a magnificent career over two decades, Murphy has amassed more than 450 appearances on the international stage for her country. Winning Australian titles in both indoor and outdoor bowls, the junior has medalled in singles, pairs, triples and foursomes. Murphy claimed the 2012 World Championship in Singles and Triples and will be looking to maintain her status as one of the world’s premier lawn bowlers.
KATY JAROCHOWICZ
Age: 30
Sport: Golf
Junior Club: Shellharbour
Career Highlight: Australian Ladies’ Amateur title
In 2003, Jarochowicz burst onto the Australian golfing scene by winning the Australian Ladies’ Amateur Championships. She continued this good form by helping Australia to a 32-4 win against New Zealand in the Tasman Cup. As a professional, it took until 2009 for Jarochowicz to win her first tournament, as the Shellharbour golfer took out the Texas Open.
KIERAN GOVERS
Age: 25
Sport: Field Hockey
Junior Club: Albion Park
Career Highlight: Gold Medal at the 2010 World Cup
Govers made the Australian National Team in 2010 against South Korea. His career would bring immediate success as the Kookaburras claimed World Cup and Champions Trophy Gold in the same year. After winning the Champions Trophy again in 2012, Govers played in the Kookaburras Bronze Medal winning Olympic side. The Illawarra local continues to be known for his goal scoring prowess.
LUKE WILKSHIRE
Age: 31
Sport: Football
Junior Club: Albion Park
Career Highlight: Playing in two World Cups with the Socceroos
Wilkshire is a member of the ‘golden generation’ in Australian football. The right back made his move to Europe as a teenager with Middlesborough and has since tested his skill in a number of Europe’s best leagues. Now with Dynamo Moscow in Russsa, Wilkshire played in both the Socceroos 2006 and 2010 World Cup campaigns, as well as the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.
MICHAEL LOWE
Age: 36
Sport: Surfing
Junior Club: Windang Island
Career Highlight: 2002 Season - Winning the Quiksilver Pro Fiji
In a career that spanned 14 years as a professional, Lowe gained a reputation as one of Australia’s best surfers. He took out the NSW junior title four times, before winning the world ‘grommet’ title in 1993. Lowe ranked as high as number six in the surfing world, before opting to retire in 2008 with multiple titles under his belt.
MORRIS TWINS
Age: 26
Sport: Rugby League
Junior Club: Kiama Knights
Career Highlight: Playing for Australia
The most famous twins in the NRL at the moment just happen to be two of the most talented. The Morris brothers debuted for St George Illawarra a year apart, before Josh made the move to the Bulldogs in 2009. Since the move, both have played at the pinnacle of rugby league in State of Origin and for their country. Both are known for their try-scoring ability and are the sons of St George great Steve Morris.
NIC MADDINSON
Age: 21
Sport: Cricket
Junior Club: Warilla
Career Highlight: Scoring 100 on debut for NSW
Maddinson set the cricketing world alight when he became the youngest player in the state’s history to score a century on First Class debut at just 18 years of age for the NSW Blues. Having already been a member of the Australian Under-19 squad that won the 2010 World Cup, Maddinson continued to demonstrate his talent with the blade. The left-handed batsman remains a crucial part of the NSW and Sydney Sixers cricket teams.
PHIL JACQUES
Age: 34
Sport: Cricket
Junior Club: Wests
Career Highlight: Playing for Australia
The left-handed batsman debuted for NSW in 2001, slowly establishing himself as one of domestic cricket’s best openers. Jacques piled on runs for successive seasons in the domestic competition before finally being rewarded with a baggy green in December 2005. Since then he has played 11 Tests and six One Day Internationals for Australia, scoring three 100s in the process.
ROBBIE MADDISON
Age: 31
Sport: Freestyle Motocross
Junior Club: Kiama
Career Highlight: Breaking the world record for a distance jump on a motocycle
Maddison is considered one of the greats of the Motocross world, continuing to revolutionise the sport with crazy jumps and stunts. The Kiama daredevil has broken countless records in mega jumping. In 2008 he broke his own distance jump motocross world record twice in one night at a Crusty Demons event in Melbourne. He continues to jump record distances at locations around the globe.
ROBERT HURLEY
Age: 24
Sport: Swimming
Junior Club: Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club
Career Highlight: Breaking the 50m backstroke world record
Hurley has competed as a backstroker and middle distance freestyle swimmer for Australia. The Wollongong swimmer rose to prominence in 2008 when he broke the world record in the 50m backstroke, setting a time of 23.24 seconds. He represented Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the 400m Freestyle and continues to swim around the world at the highest level.
ROCHELLE GILMORE
Age: 31
Sport: Cycling
Junior Club: Illawarra Cycling Club
Career Highlight: 2006 Commonwealth Games Silver Medal - Scratch Race
Another of the region’s finest track cyclists, Gilmore has won countless National titles in the Velodrome. But while the Australian representative has won silver medals at both the Commonwealth Games and World Track Championships, she has also competed at the highest level in Road Cycling. With the Lotto Ladies Team, Gilmore participated in stage races around the globe.
RYAN GREGSON
Age: 23
Sport: Middle Distance Runner
Junior Club: Kembla Joggers
Career Highlight: Breaking the Australian Record for the 1500m in 2010
After competing for Australia at youth level, Gregson made his senior debut for his country in the 2009 World Championships in Berlin in his pet event, the 1500m. The following year he became the fastest Australian of all time over the distance, clocking a time of 3:31:06. In 2012 he qualified for the London Olympics where he was knocked out in the semi-finals.
RYAN AND JAY MARMONT
Age: Jay 30, Ryan 28
Sport: Motocross
Junior Club: Berkeley
Career Highlight: Winning national titles
Wollongong riders Jay and Ryan Marmont have been two of Australia’s finest motocross competitors over the past decade. Jay has been Australian Supercross champion for the past two seasons and has won a massive six national titles in five years. His younger brother Ryan finished second in the Pro Lite’s category in 2012, but has previously won the title in an impressive motocross resume. The brothers have been competing on the national stage since their teenage years and continue to succeed at the highest level.
SALLY FITZGIBBONS
Age: 22
Sport: Surfing
Junior Club: Gerroa
Career Highlight: 2007 Junior World Champion Title
As one of Australia’s best female surfers, Fitzgibbons remains one of the highest-profile athletes from the region. Rising to prominence throughout her teens, Fitzgibbons became the ASP World Junior Champion in 2007. She followed up this success by becoming the ISA World Champion. The Gerroa-based surfer debuted on the World Surfing Tour in 2009, winning numerous titles and rising through the ranks to become world number two. Outside of being one of the countries best surfers, Fitzgibbons has been a national level 1500m runner.
SCOTT CHIPPERFIELD
Age: 37
Sport: Football
Junior Club: Bellambi-Tarrawanna
Career Highlight: Playing in two World Cups for Australia
The winger started his career in the NSL, winning two titles and two Johnny Warren Medals while with the Wollongong Wolves. Chipperfield joined FC Basel in 2001 and spent the next decade at the club, winning multiple Swiss Titles and Cups. He was part of Australia’s last two World Cup campaigns and is expected to return to the Illawarra Premier League later this year to link up with Tarrawanna.
SCOTT LAW
Age: 22
Sport: Cycling
Junior Club: Illawarra Cycling Club
Career Highlight: Representing Australia in 2008 at the World Junior Championships
Starting off his career as a track cyclist, Law won a swag of junior titles in Time Trials, Criteriums, Sprints and Pursuits. His efforts on the track were rewarded when he won the 2007 Junior Champion of Champions at the National titles. Law now rides in road events for GPM Data#3.
SHANE LEE
Age: 39
Sport: Cricket
Junior Club: Oak Flats Rats
Career Highlight: Winning the 1999 World Cup
Making his debut for his state in 1993, Shane Lee established himself as one of the country’s best all-rounders. Lee represented Australia at an under-19s level before breaking into the senior ODI squad in 1995. He remained part of the squad for the 1996 and 1999 ODI World Cups. In 2003, Lee retired at just 29 years of age due to continuing knee injuries.
SHANNAN TAYLOR
Age: 41
Sport: Boxing
Junior Club: Bulli
Career Highlight: Claiming the WBF Middleweight Title belt
The Bulli Blaster had his first professional fight in 1992, easily beating his opponent in the second round. This was a sign of things to come for Taylor, who soon claimed the Australian Light Welterweight title. Throughout his career he had a number of high-profile fights, including a bout with Shane 'Sugar’ Mosley in Las Vegas. Taylor held the WBF Middleweight Title before medical issues stalled his career in 2011.
TALISSA SCOTT
Age: 20
Sport: Long Jump
Junior Club: Kiama Little Athletics
Career Highlight: Qualifying for the World Junior Championships
In her young career, Scott has already established herself as the best long jumper in the region’s history. The 20-year-old qualified for her first World Junior Championships when she jumped 6.23m at the NSW Junior Championships in 2012. Scott has set her sights on the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
TOM ELLEM
Age: 39
Sport: Lawn Bowls
Junior Club: Oak Flats
Career Highlight: Australian Singles Champion
Ellem is both a NSW and Australian Champion in singles lawn bowls after securing the titles in 2001. He debuted for a Australia in 2002 in a singles match against Wales before being selected in a ten man squad for the Commonwealth Games. For a decade Ellem was a mainstay in the NSW side, setting greens alight all over the country.
TROY SACHS
Age: 37
Sport: Wheelchair basketball
Junior Club: Illawarra
Career Highlight: Paralympic Gold Medals in Atlanta and Beijing
Sachs is one of Australia’s greatest paralympians of all time. Competing in five Games for Wheelchair Basketball, Sachs won two golds and a silver with the Australian team. His 1996 Atlanta gold included a 42 point performance in the final, setting a world record in the sport. Sachs received an Order of Australia Medal for Excellence and Service for wheelchair basketball in 1997 and continues to be an advocate for the sport.
Who did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.