Helena Carey, daughter of AFL player Stefan Carey, sets world record at age six

Some spend their life chasing an elusive world title but this little champion and daughter of an AFL player has one at the ripe age of six.

She might only be six, but little Helena Carey knows exactly what she wants in life - to be like Sydney 2000 hero Cathy Freeman and get plenty of hugs from her mum and dad whenever she can.

The tiny dynamo, who attends Vaucluse Primary and belongs to South Eastern Little Athletics in Sydney, is Australia’s newest world champion with the little speedster blasting out an extraordinary time over 300m recently.

Helena, whose father is a retired AFL player, said two of the best things about setting the world record were getting a big hug from her mum Rosie immediately after she set the record at E S Marks Athletics Field and a trip to Kmart the next day.

With vocal support from her family, including big brother Luke, Helena ran a 57.57 for her 300m run to break the record of 58.38 set by Bella Marie Black in the US in 2016.

“I was really happy and my parents gave me a big hug and I just loved it,” said Helena, who also likes gymnastics and netball and has played Auskick.

“And the next day I got some things at Kmart. Some beads and a lamp, everything that is really really great.”

Little world champion Helena Carey.

Helena‘s father Stefan, a former Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions player, and wife Rosie had shown Helena videos of Freeman winning the 400m at the Sydney Olympics when she first started to show an interest in running.

Now Freeman is Helena’s hero and someone she wants to replicate one day by winning a gold medal for Australia.

Little world champion Helena Carey and her supporters.

“I really want to try to be like Cathy Freeman because she runs so fast and tried so hard,’’ Helena said.

Helena races across various distances, including 100m races at Little Athletics meets, but said she enjoys the longer distances the most.

“When I do the 500m I’m really tired and when I do the 100m I’m not tired but I still love it,’’ she said.

Cathy Freeman celebrating her gold.

Stefan Carey in action for the Swans back in 1999.

Helena has broken a number of records with her Little Athletics club and with a family background in sport could potentially break plenty more in the future.

Stefan said he asked Helena if she wanted to make the record attempt at Christmas and she jumped at the chance to run as fast as she could.

“We are a sport-mad family,’’ he said. “She also plays a bit of AFL Auskick and was phenomenal at it last year.

“She kicked 12 goals in two games but wanted to do gymnastics.

“Now she wants to be Cathy Freeman. She’s got books and photos and loves watching her race.’’

Next on the agenda for Helena is another Little Athletics meet this weekend where she will also try her hand at discus, shot put and the long jump.

“I don’t like them as much,’’ she said.

More from AMANDA LULHAM HERE

.