WHO are the most influential people in Gold Coast sport? The Bulletin has scoured all the sports to come up with a Power 50, ranking the personalities who impact the Coast’s sporting landscape.
Today, we start with numbers 50-41, with rowing legend Duncan Free in the spotlight.
All key figures will be revealed online throughout the week before the full list appears online and in Saturday’s Bulletin.
41. JAMES COURTNEY
Megastar of Australian motorsport. A former Formula One test driver and the 2010 Supercars champion, Courtney runs JC Karts which provides opportunities for young male and female drivers who also benefit from his mentoring.
42. DUNCAN FREE
Olympic gold medal-winning rower has a key role to play as Griffith Sports College director, drawing on his career experiences to guide various current and rising athletes to all-important balance in their aspirations.
43. RILEY DAY
Up-and-coming star this year became the inaugural winner of the Betty Cuthbert Medal in a sign of her growing stature. Particularly rose to fame when she ran against global megastar Usain Bolt in the Nitro Athletics series last year before competing in the Commonwealth Games.
44. TOBY EDMONDS
Champion horse racing trainer whose achievements include winning the prestigious Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Houtzen. Also a winner of Queensland Racing Media Association’s Personality of the Year Award.
45. MICHAEL NESER
Gold Coast’s newest Australian cricketer. Neser was a member of the 2009-10 premiership-winning Dolphins side and still occasionally captains the club between his various higher-level commitments. Top role model for the city’s up-and-coming cricketers.
46. KEN WALLACE
Kayak and surf lifesaving guru is a council lifeguard here on the Gold Coast. With an Order of Australia Medal to his name, is equally impressive in and out of the water — the highly respected athlete’s career highlights including K1 500m at 2008 Beijing Olympics.
47. EMMA MCKEON
The Gold Coast resident is Australia’s most consistent performer in the nation’s most important Olympic sport: Swimming. Most recently the 24-year-old claimed a remarkable six medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games including four golds.
48. DANNY MAHER
The businessman driving the return of top-level football to the city. Chairman of Gold Coast United, Maher is the face of a second attempt at an A-League team here — as well as our first W-League franchise.
49. SCOTT DUNSHEA
In his position as Rugby League Gold Coast manager, Dunshea has the power to steer the thriving competition to an even better future. Potential expansion is high on the agenda, as is capturing the imagination of the late-teen bracket.
50. BERNARD TOMIC
Controversial figure but a homegrown product with a huge profile. If he can harness his dramas and attitude to come back from the brink, the brutally honest 25-year-old could become an unlikely positive influence.
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