Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has a Proud Sporting Heritage
The Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia has become well known in the Southern Hemisphere as the region of choice for the well-heeled to holiday.
It has all the ingredients that are sought by the hard working executive to relax and recharge their batteries. Stunning beaches, a consistent climate, world class restaurants, great surf and an endless supply of cold beer. However hidden beneath the surface of this holiday paradise is the fact that it is consistently producing and training world class athletes.
Pat Rafter who was ranked number 1 mens singles tennis player in the world in 1999 and won 2 US open titles at Flushing Meadow, was honing his tennis skills from an early age in Eumundi,(he went to the same primary school as Kevin Rudd, the current Australian Prime Minister).
Gary Elkerton was raised in a beachside caravan park in Mooloolaba, where he honed his surfing skills. He finished runner up on the world tour three times in the 80′s and 90′s and won the Quicksilver Masters in France in 2001. Alexandra Headland, Point Cartwright, Old Woman Island, Moffats and Double Island Point are where he learnt his trade.
Mal Meninga was raised in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, starting his A grade Rugby League career with Palmwoods then moved onto the Nambour All Whites. He went onto captain Australia as well as lead the Maroons to four straight State of Origin series wins as coach (the best coaching record in the history of Origin). He also holds the world record for shortest political career when in 2001 he resigned within 28 seconds of announcing he was running for parliament.
Ian Baker-Finch grew up in Nambour and joined the PGA tour in 1979, he gradually built a reputation as a world class golfer through the eighties finally winning the most coveted major in golf, the 1991 Open Championship.
After retiring from the professional tour he became a commentator for CBS in the States and gained worldwide press headlines when he stood by the 18th green commentating at the 2007 Barclays tournament, to be hit on the head and laid out unconscious by a stray shot from the American Rich Beem.
Other world class athletes from the Sunshine Coast include Grant Kenny who grew up in Maryborough and won canoeing bronze in the LA Olympics of 1984, Billy Slater who grew up in Nambour and has become one of the stars of the NRL as well as representing Australia and Josh Constable, born and raised in Noosa, who won the World Longboard title in 2006.
The Coast is also currently home to Evonne Cawley(winner of 6 Grand Slam singles tennis titles), who lives in Sunshine Beach, Michael O’Connor (represented Australia at Rugby Union and League) who lives in Sunshine Beach, Raelene Boyle(winner of 7 Commonwealth Games gold medals and 3 Olympic silvers in the 100m and 200m) who lives in Buderim and Lisa Curry-Kenny (winner of 7 Commonwealth games swimming gold medals), who lives in Minyama.
If you are looking for Sunshine Coast accommodation, particularly a Mooloolaba resort, you will find the best Mooloolaba apartments at Bluewater Point resort.
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