Many of Australia�s greatest sports heroes have been loners i.e. great individualists. Here are some very invidual sports indeed.

In Tennis, Australia has produced many legends. The 1950s through the 90s brought forward a rash of Aussie tennis greats such as Rod Laver (�The Rocket�), John Newcombe, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, Pat Cash and Pat Rafter.

In Golf, Australia has given the world Greg Norman (picture, left), Bruce Devlin, Graham Marsh, Peter Thomson, Jan Stephenson. However, it is in swimming which pit the individual against the elements which have brought out the best in Australians.

With such a vast coastline and fine summers, it is not surprising that Swimming has been a top sport for Australia. Aussie kids are tossed into the pool almost as soon as they can walk. In the 1950s, Dawn Fraser became Australia�s darling as much for her cheeky anti-establishment attitude as her victories in the pool. In the 1970s, Shane Gould followed in her wake, with a slew of Olympic medals. In the year 2000, it is Ian Thorpe (�The Thorpedo�) who is leaving everyone behind in the pools.

Aussies have also ruled the world of Surfing almost as soon as its inception as a competitive sport. Mark Richards with four world titles makes him the greatest-ever competition surfer. Namaes like Nat Young and Tom Carroll also have permanent niches in a notional �surfing hall of fame�.

Australian motor racing has produced Formula One world champions in Jack Brabham (three times world champion) and Alan Jones (single). Then there are the motorcycle racing champions in Wayne Gardner, Michael Doohan and Daryl Beattie.