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Adam Goodes: softly spoken champion with strength to unite a divided nation Adam Goodes: softly spoken champion with strength to unite a divided nation
(7 months later)
Australian Australian of the Year for 2014 Adam Goodes is a humble man. The Sydney Swans champion is softly spoken, even in moments of great difficulty. But he stands out as a true leader, and his words resonate strongly in a nation that has always been divided by race.
of the Year for 2014 Adam Goodes is a humble man. The Sydney Swans
champion is softly spoken, even in moments of great difficulty. But he
stands out as a true leader, and his words resonate strongly in a nation
that has always been divided by race.
“The ultimate reward is when all Australians see each other as equals and treat each other as equals.”“The ultimate reward is when all Australians see each other as equals and treat each other as equals.”
His His AFL career has been filled with triumphs. He was picked by the Sydney Swans to play in the 1997 AFL draft, and quickly found form. He has received the Brownlow Medal, which is awarded to the “fairest and best” player, twice during his career, once in 2003 and once in 2006.
AFL career has been filled with triumphs. He was picked by the Sydney But, as Goodes said in his acceptance speech on Saturday, he has faced many trials in his life fighting against racism. One of those trials was when a 13-year-old girl called him an ape during an AFL game in 2013.
Swans to play in the 1997 AFL draft, and quickly found form. He has “To play such a pivotal role, it just sort of means nothing. To come to the boundary line and to hear a 13-year-old girl call me an ape...it was shattering.”
received the Brownlow Medal, which is awarded to the “fairest and best”
player, twice during his career, once in 2003 and once in 2006.
But,
as Goodes said in his acceptance speech on Saturday, he has faced many
trials in his life fighting against racism. One of those trials was when
a 13-year-old girl called him an ape during an AFL game in 2013.
“To
play such a pivotal role, it just sort of means nothing. To come to the
boundary line and to hear a 13-year-old girl call me an ape...it was
shattering.”
But Goodes, showing enormous restraint, did not blame the girl.But Goodes, showing enormous restraint, did not blame the girl.
“It’s “It’s not her fault, she's 13, she’s still so innocent, I don’t put any blame on her. Unfortunately it’s what she hears and the environment that she grows up in that makes her think that it’s ok to call people those names,” he said.
not her fault, she's 13, she’s still so innocent, I don’t put any blame It’s moments like these that Goodes is fighting against, and moments like these that show exactly why he has been named the 2014 Australian of the Year.
on her. Unfortunately it’s what she hears and the environment that she
grows up in that makes her think that it’s ok to call people those
names,” he said.
It’s
moments like these that Goodes is fighting against, and moments like
these that show exactly why he has been named the 2014 Australian of
the Year.