The Matildas have inspired a nation with their historic exploits at the Women’s World Cup.
Tonight they’ll look to go one step further when they face England in the semi-finals.
But already they’ve written their names into the history books and delivered one of the greatest sporting moments this country has ever seen.
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was the superstar as the Aussies defeated world number five France in a thrilling penalty shootout on Saturday night, before youngster Cortnee Vine buried the winning penalty.
It’s a moment that will live long in the memory, and earns a rightful place among the most iconic moments in Aussie sporting history.
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But what else should be on the list? Looking back into the past, the America’s Cup win in 1983 – where Australia ended the USA’s 132-year winning streak with an all-time comeback victory – was a cultural phenomenon.
When it comes to this century, we’ve picked out our most iconic moments below (and in the video above!)
Fingers crossed the Matildas can deliver another moment for the history books against England.
2000: Cathy Freeman claims 400m gold at the Sydney Olympics
112,000 spectators witnessed history on that momentous night in Sydney. Few Australians have carried the weight of expectations like Freeman, who lit the Olympic Flame just a few days earlier. But she inspired a nation – and plenty of our current Matildas – with her dominant victory.
2000: Aussies stun the world in men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at Sydney Olympics
Australia has had no shortage of iconic moments in the pool. But Ian Thorpe anchoring the Australian team in the 4x100m men’s freestyle relay to an iconic victory has to be right up there. Thorpe charged home like a freight train to upset an undefeated American team, making up half a body length on Gary Hall Jr to win gold and smash the world record.
2002: Steven Bradbury’s all-time comeback seals Olympics gold
No one from the southern hemisphere had claimed gold at the Winter Olympics before Bradbury swooped in the final of the 1000m speed skating event. He was miles behind his rivals but watched them take each other out of the race before gliding through for Australia’s first Winter Olympics gold.
2005: John Aloisi sends Socceroos to the World Cup
Australia hadn’t been to a World Cup since 1974, and had fallen short in elimination qualifiers on many painful occasions. But they finally ended that long drought in a penalty shootout win over Uruguay where Aloisi buried the winner and whipped his shirt off in a celebration kids soon copied around the country.
2011: Cadel Evans wins Tour de France
No Australian had ever reigned supreme at cycling’s showpiece event – until the 34-year-old pulled off a stunner with an incredible comeback to steal the lead in the final time trial.
2013: Adam Scott wins US Masters
The only Aussie to ever reign supreme at the most famous golf tournament in the world, Scott outlasted the field in a gruelling four days at Augusta National – even if it took him a couple of playoff holes to get the job done.
2017: Jeff Horn seals stunning world title upset
Hardly anyone gave Aussie schoolteacher-turned-boxer Jeff Horn a chance against the legendary Manny Pacquiao. But the Aussie got the job done in controversial fashion at Suncorp Stadium to become Welterweight world champion.
2022: Ash Barty makes Aussie Open history
It’s hard to pick just one moment. Aus Open or Wimbledon? We’ve gone for home soil because Barty is a true-blue Aussie legend. In a straight-sets masterclass, Barty came out on top of American Danielle Collins to become the first Aussie to win the women’s singles crown since way back in 1978. And she celebrated with a beer, to boot.
Honourable mentions:
The 2003 Rugby World Cup, where Australia claimed a memorable win over NZ in the semis before falling in heartbreaking fashion to England in the final.
The 2015 Cricket World Cup final at the MCG, where Australia thrashed New Zealand in front of 93,013 fans.
The Women’s T20 World Cup final – also at the ‘G – where Meg Lanning’s team beat India to win a FIFTH T20 WC crown – this time in front of 86k.
A 20-year-old Ariarne Titmus in 2021 winning the 200m/400m freestyle double at the Tokyo Olympics, her Olympic debut – and doing so against the reigning champion Katie Ledecky.
