![A photo of Shane Warne, dressed in test cricket whites and a hat, looking up at the crowd while holding a cricket ball against a stump he is holding in his other hand.](/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/media/images/2023-05/nla-grit-gold-shane-warne-obj-137980452.jpg?itok=mBzw8kTo)
Sporting heroes are elevated beyond everyday life.
Names such as Don Bradman and Shane Warne, or Cathy Freeman and Ash Barty, have come to conjure up much more than simply individual examples of sporting greatness. They have become part of the social glue which draws Australians together.
These sporting superstars help build a sense of community and pride, not only on the local or national level, but also on the world stage.