Ash Barty crowned Australia’s most popular sports personality
Nick Kyrgios was named Australia's most controversial sporting star.
Retired Australian tennis star Ash Barty and Matildas' captain Sam Kerr have been named Australia's most popular sports personalities in the Australian Talent Index's 2024 Top Talent Report.
Barty retained her number one spot on the list, having taken out the prime position in the inaugural 2022 index, while Kerr moved up seven positions from her 2022 ranking to second place. Wheelchair tennis star and radio host Dylan Alcott took out third position.
Barty was the second Australian tennis player to be ranked world number one and is also a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, claiming titles at the 2019 French Open, the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2022 Australian Open.
The Australian Talent Index is calculated by subtracting the proportion of people who disliked a personality from those who liked or loved them, giving each a score ranging from -100 (universally disliked) through to +100 (universally liked).
How sporting talent rank:
Most trusted women in sport
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Former Australian cricketer and one-time captain of the Australian women's team, Meg Lanning, was considered to be the most trustworthy sports star, followed by fellow cricketer and current team captain, Alyssa Healy, and rugby league player, Millie Boyle.
Best awareness of women in sport
In terms of awareness in Australia, Ash Barty topped the list.
Most authentic women in sport
Cricketer Alyssa Healy was considered to be the most authentic sports player, equal to retired tennis star Casey Dellacqua.
Most likeable women in sport
Likebility went to former world number one and 11-time Grand Slam tennis champion, Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
Most controversial
Tennis star Nick Kyrgios was deemed to be Australia's most controversial sporting star, followed by former professional boxer and rugby league player, Anthony Mundine.
Most entertaining
The Penrith Panthers' Jarome Luai topped the most entertaining list, followed by former Queensland NRL player and commentator, Jonathan Thurston.
Most relatable
Australian netballer Gretel Bueta and cyclist Anna Meares were considered the most relatable sporting talent.
Sports codes popularity
When it comes to AFL, returned West Coast Eagles star, Nic Naitanui, ranked number one, while Jonathan Thurston took out the top spot in the NRL. Ash Barty came in first in tennis, while former international cricketer and commentator Adam Gilchrist took out the prime position in cricket.
Last week, Network 10’s I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! host Robert Irwin was named Australia’s most popular broadcast personality in the Australian Talent Index’s 2024 Top Talent Report – before the show had even aired.
Irwin, a relative newcomer to Aussie screens, took out the top broadcast talent spot, eclipsing the last report’s winner – comedian and TV personality Hamish Blake – in his debut appearance on the list.
Alongside his top broadcast position, Irwin was also voted number one broadcast talent by women and was considered the celebrity who gives the most back to the community, according to the Index.
