Matildas FIFA World Cup stars receive MASSIVE accolade that has been reserved for the likes of Don Bradman, Ash Barty, Cathy Freeman and the Socceroos
- Beat the Australian men's cricket team for the prize
- Beome is only the third team to win the honor normally reserved for individuals
- Big Ange has lost three in a row, but there's a good chance he'll change his style: It all starts
Australia's Matildas who recorded a huge win at the FIFA Women's World Cup have received another major accolade, with the team being honored with the Sport Australia Hall of Fame's Don Award.
The Matildas became the first Australian team, male or female, to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA World Cup in this year's tournament held in Australia and New Zealand.
While the tournament ended with back-to-back losses and a fourth-place finish, the Matildas wrote their names into Australian sporting folklore for reaching the final stages of the highly successful World Cup.
The prestigious Don Award is named in honor of legendary cricketer Sir Donald Bradman AC, who was the inaugural inductee into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame when it was established in 1998.
Kyah Simon, who missed the selection for the squad to play Canada, accepted the award on behalf of the Matildas
The Matildas announced themselves as a real force at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand
This award is widely regarded as the highest honor in Australian sport and is awarded to an athlete or team who, through their exemplary performance and conduct, has served as the most inspirational force for the nation over the past year.
It's usually an award reserved for the likes of Ash Barty and her Grand Slam tennis success and Cathy Freeman for her iconic gold medal at the Sydney Olympics.
Sam Kerr and her Matildas became the third team to receive the recognition, following in the footsteps of the Australian women's cricket team in 2020 and the Socceroos in 2006.
Defeat the Matildas the Australian men's cricket team, which secured the World Test Championship, retained the Ashes and won the one-day World Cup.
With the majority of the Matildas squad in Canada this weekend for the matches or recovering from injury, A-League player and former Matildas star Kyah Simon accepted the award on behalf of the team.
“(The) Matildas created a seismic sporting shift: transforming women's football, uniting the country, inspiring the next generation of hopefuls and further elevating women's sport with a long-deserved national profile,” a statement from the Matildas said.
“What the Matildas achieved in the run-up to the World Cup and the actual tournament was groundbreaking.
“They have broken countless records along the way and attracted extraordinary crowds to their matches: nearly two million spectators in stadiums and hundreds of thousands in live venues across the country.
'On TV, their semi-final against England was the highest ratings program in Australia since the current ratings system started in 2001.'
The 2000 Australian women's water polo team received the Dawn Award in recognition of their fight to have the sport competed in the Sydney Olympics, before winning its first Olympic gold medal in a nail-biting 4-3 win over the USA.
Seven new members were inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on Friday: Johnathan Thurston AM, Kim Brennan AM, Kurt Fearnley AO, Lydia Lassila OAM, Nova Peris OAM, Tim Cahill AO and Tim McLaren OAM, while Bob Skilton OAM, Layne Beachley AO and Mark Ella AM were elevated to Legend status.