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FIFA has today unveiled the first of a stellar team of local stars to be known as ‘Beyond Greatness Champions’ to support and promote the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Beyond Greatness Champions are a group of inspirational trailblazers who represent the best of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand across sport, entertainment, media, arts, politics and business. They will be using their passion for women’s sport, inclusivity and unity to build anticipation for the tournament through their social channels, representing FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 at key milestones and events, and sharing the excitement within their industries and networks. They are a team who are united by their achievements and commitment for change, history makers who exemplify what it means to go Beyond Greatness.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 COO Australia Jane Fernandez highlights how the Beyond Greatness Champions will play a crucial role in supporting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup within local communities.
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup is going to create history and make change right across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and what better team of inspirational people to help celebrate this than our very own history-makers. Our Beyond Greatness Champions will help shape moments of empowerment for women on and off the pitch in the lead up to the tournament, now and for generations to come.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 COO Aotearoa New Zealand Jane Patterson says history is all about firsts and inspiring the next generation.
“We’ve called upon inspirational Australians and New Zealanders who represent our host nations’ diverse communities, who share values with our event, and who have achieved their own moments of greatness to help us engage with our communities and promote the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.”
Beyond Greatness Champions
Australia’s most successful female Paralympian and cancer survivor, Ellie Cole, joins the Beyond Greatness Champions line-up having recently retired from life as an elite athlete. Over almost two decades Ellie has not only inspired Australia by becoming the first S9 swimmer to break 29 seconds in the 50m freestyle, breaking multiple world records and with her incredible seventeen Paralympic medals, but by spreading awareness and instigating change for people of all abilities. Ellie grew up in Melbourne / Naarm but now resides in Sydney / Gadigal where she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2014, and Most Outstanding Woman in Sport at the Australian Women in Sport Awards in 2022.
“I became invested in women’s football after watching the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, combine this with my passion for women’s sports in Australia and it was an easy decision to be a Beyond Greatness Champion. The future of women’s sport is very exciting and we’re going to be seeing some powerhouse women competing at this FIFA Women’s World Cup.” {Quote attributable to Ellie Cole}
Chloe Dalton was famously a member of the first ever Women’s Rugby Sevens Olympic gold medal-winning team in Rio 2016 and has since blazed a trail as founder of the Female Athlete Project; a podcast and news outlet shining a light on women’s sport and female athletes in an industry dominated by male headlines. Hailing from Sydney / Gadigal, Chloe has been dubbed a rare three-code athlete, playing at an elite level in basketball, rugby sevens and currently AFLW. In 2017 Chloe was recognised for her service to sport with the Medal of the Order of Australia.
“When I think of what Beyond Greatness means, for me it’s all about the next generation of little kids who will watch footballers from all around the world, and this Tournament will have a huge impact not just on their sport but on their whole lives too.”
“I’m really passionate about investing in women’s sport, so I’m excited to become a Beyond Greatness Champion for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and the opportunity to continue campaigning for these incredible athletes, and shine a light on the amazing things they are achieving day in and day out.” {Quote attributable to Chloe Dalton}
Melanie McLaughlin is a sports presenter who has heralded much needed change in the face of sport in Australia. Mel is a highly respected sports presenter and live-to-air broadcaster who has covered a host of major international sporting events, including both summer and winter Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, the FIFA World Cup, tennis and most recently the 2021-22 Ashes series and 2022 Winter Olympics. A self-confessed football ‘tragic’ from a young age growing up in Sydney / Gadigal, she formerly worked at Fox Sports where she hosted multiple football shows including Kick Off, Indian Super League and Fox Sports FC, whilst being a regular on Fox Sports News.
“I decided to become a Beyond Greatness Champion, because what a privilege it is. I’m already so excited and I still can’t believe the FIFA Women’s World Cup is coming to our shores. But to be able to be involved on another level like this, is just incredible.”
“I genuinely don’t think that the mainstream public in Australia and New Zealand understand just how big the FIFA Women’s World Cup is going to be… what impact it’s going to have on kids and adults, all walks of life. The world is coming to our shores, the world is going to be watching. A whole generation is going to be inspired.” {Quote attributable to Melanie McLaughlin}
Maia Jackman is a FIFA Legend and former Football Ferns’ captain, with a career in the New Zealand national team spanning 1993-2012. She played in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup and in the same year was selected for the FIFA All Star World XI. She was also awarded the Order of Merit MNZM for services to football in 2013. Maia is passionate about women’s development in football and hopes she can show aspiring young footballers there is a pathway to greatness in the sport.
“Football is such a passion of mine, building our next generation is so important and I wanted to be a part of that. My hope is that the Beyond Greatness Champions can also help inspire all types of people to come and watch this amazing landmark event. Equally I’m really excited to see the Football Ferns in action this year.” {Quote attributable to Maia Jackman)
Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Winter Olympic gold medalist, and most successful ever Winter Olympian Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, grew up playing football in Australia. She also became the first snowboarder ever to defend a Slopestyle World Championship title in March 2021. She’s an inspiration to young snow sports athletes around the world, with two slopestyle world champion titles to her name and four X Games gold medals.
“It’s really awesome that New Zealand is hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup, it’s going to be amazing to see world class matches happen on home soil. I’m really proud to be a Beyond Greatness Champion. One of the reasons I got into snowboarding is because I also wanted to inspire the next generation and I think this tournament is going to do just that for aspiring footballers around Aotearoa New Zealand.” {Quote attributable to Zoi Sadowski-Synnott}
Dame Therese Walsh is currently Chair of ASB and Air New Zealand and has a strong background in major events in Aotearoa New Zealand. She was part of the team that secured the hosting rights for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and then went on to hold the role of Chief Operating Officer for the tournament. She was also the Head of NZ for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Dame Therese was recognised for her contribution to sport when she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015.
“I’m so proud Aotearoa NZ can host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. We’ve got this wonderful history of hosting incredible major sporting events, and this one is the largest women’s sporting event in the world, so how incredible to have it in this beautiful, small country that really comes together and supports these events in a special way that I don’t think you’ll see anywhere else on the globe.” {Quote attributable to Dame Therese Walsh}
Stay tuned for more exciting names to be added to the full line-up of Beyond Greatness Champions in the lead up to the tournament kicking off on July 20, 2023.
