Australia has a rich history in sport on the world stage, and in many cases performs well above expectations based on its relatively small population.

International Rules Football Games

An International Rules Football game at Subiaco Oval, Perth WA, in 2017

The most popular national sport in Australia is Cricket, in which Australians are very successful at. There are two major football codes Rugby League played predominantly in New South Wales and Queensland, and Aussie Rules popular in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. Rugby Union and Association Football (known mostly as Soccer) is also played. The most popular female sport is Netball.

"Australia's sporting success relative to its population is remarkable. With just 26 million people, the nation consistently ranks among the top Olympic medal winners, a testament to their comprehensive athlete development programs and sporting culture."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports

Australians also love water sports and have been a superpower when it comes to swimming since the late 50s. Swimmers like Dawn Fraser, Shane Gould, Kieren Perkins and Ian Thorpe have all won multiple gold medals since the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Australia has hosted the Olympics twice (1956 and 2000).

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Australia. See also the list of most attended sports in Australia, and the most popular internet searches for "sports" in Australia. See also Major Sporting events in Australia.

Popular Sports of Australia

See more about popular sports in Australia.

Pro Tip: For the ultimate Australian sports experience, attend an AFL Grand Final at the MCG in Melbourne (late September) or watch the Boxing Day Test cricket match - both are iconic Australian sporting traditions that draw massive crowds.

Traditional Sports of Australia

Australia's traditional (Aboriginal) games are unique in a way because they are not competitive in nature. They are more focused on cooperation and oneness because when a player is "out" of the game, they can simply rejoin the game.

Games like Goomboobooddoo, a traditional wrestling game played by family against family.

Another one is Buroinjin, played with a ball made from kangaroo skin and stuffed with grass, and is very similar to basketball.

"Aboriginal sporting traditions represent some of the oldest continuous sporting cultures in the world. Games like Buroinjin and Goomboobooddoo emphasize community participation over competition - a philosophy that contrasts with modern Western sports but offers valuable insights into inclusive athletic culture."
— Sports science expert Robert Wood

Sports Specific to Australia

  • Australian Football — a fast-paced football code played between two teams of eighteen players on a large oval field.
  • Kegel — a German nine-pin bowling game played in Australia.
  • Calisthenics — a competitive team sport in which athletes perform elements of rhythmic gymnastics and ballet.
  • Campdrafting — a rider on horseback attempts to cut out cattle from its herd and drive it into a pen.
  • Surf Lifesaving — competitions consist of performing various tasks performed by lifeguards on the beach.
  • Trugo — players strike a rubber ring, which is called a whell, with a mallet through goal posts.
  • Vigoro — an Australian sport that combines elements of Cricket and Baseball, mainly played by women. Played on a pitch shorter than for cricket, with a bat with a long handle like a paddle.

Australian Football (AFL)

Australian Football, commonly known as AFL or Aussie Rules, is the most popular spectator sport in Australia. The AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground regularly attracts crowds exceeding 100,000.

Learn More About AFL →

Australia Sporting Success

  • Rugby World Cup winners 1991, 1999
  • ICC Cricket World Cup winners 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2023
  • ICC Champions Trophy winner - 2006, 2009
  • Hockey Champions Trophy winners - 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1999, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018
  • Asian Cup Football winners - 2015
  • Australia won 53 medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics (18 gold, 19 silver, and 16 bronze)
  • Australia won 46 medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (17 gold, 7 silver, and 22 bronze)
  • Australia won 29 medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics (8 gold, 11 silver, and 10 bronze)
  • Australia won 35 medals at the London 2012 Olympics (8 gold, 15 silver, and 12 bronze)
"Australia's 53-medal haul at Paris 2024 demonstrates the continued excellence of Australian sport. The Australian Institute of Sport system, established in 1981, has been instrumental in developing world-class athletes across multiple disciplines, particularly in swimming and cycling."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports

Great Athletes from Australia

Sir Donald Bradman - The Greatest Cricketer

Sir Donald Bradman's Test batting average of 99.94 is widely regarded as the greatest achievement by any sportsperson in any sport. His career average is nearly 40 runs higher than any other Test batsman in history.

Donald Bradman Profile →

Australian Sports Trivia

  • Australia is one of only five nations to have participated at every Olympic Games of the modern era.
  • Cricketer Faith Thomas in 1958 was the first Aboriginal woman to be selected to represent Australia in any sport.
  • In 2011, Cadel Evans became the first Australian to win the Tour de France.
  • In 2012, Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the US Masters.
  • Jordan Mailata is the first Australian to play in a winning Super Bowl side, being part of the victorious Philadelphia Eagles team in 2025. However, he is the second Australian to win a Super Bowl ring, as Jesse Williams was a member of the Seattle Seahawks when they won in 2014, though he did not play in the final.

Pro Tip: Visit the Australian Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to explore over 100 years of Australian sporting history, including interactive exhibits and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Australia at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Australia

See upcoming world events to be held in Australia.

"The Sydney 2000 Olympics are often regarded as the 'best Games ever' and showcased Australia's ability to host world-class sporting events. The legacy of those Games continues to benefit Australian sport through improved infrastructure and development programs."
— As noted by Robert Wood, Topend Sports founder

Annual Sporting Events Held in Australia

Melbourne Cup - The Race That Stops a Nation

The Melbourne Cup, held on the first Tuesday in November, is Australia's most prestigious horse race and is often called "the race that stops a nation." Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday in Melbourne.

Melbourne Cup History →

Major Sporting Leagues in Australia

  • AFL — Men's Australian Football League
  • AFLW — Women's Australian Football League
  • A-League — the top level men's football (soccer) league in Australia.
  • A League Women: Women's Football (Soccer)
  • AWL Men's: Australian Water Polo League (Men's)
  • AWL Women's: Australian Water Polo League (Women's)
  • AIHL: Men's Ice Hockey
  • NBL: Men's Basketball
  • WNBL: Women's National Basketball League
  • Netball: Women's Netball League. Super Netball Cup — the top level netball league in Australia.
  • Super Rugby: Men's Rugby International Provincial Competition
  • Super W: Women's Rugby Union
  • NRL — National Rugby League
  • NRL W: National Women's Rugby League
  • Sheffield Shield: Men's Long form Cricket
  • WNCL: Women's National Cricket League
  • BBL: Men's Big Bash Cricket
  • WBBL: Women's Big Bash Cricket
  • ABL: Men's Australian Baseball League

Sporting Facilities in Australia

Stadiums in Australia

See more stadiums in Australia.

More in Australian Sport

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