While the sporting world may be flooded with teenage prodigies more interested in Instagram selfies and B-grade reality tv appearances, there are more than a few willing to put their bodies on the line.
While Bernard Tomic may struggle to survive the jungles of reality television in South Africa, there are some athletes known for their toughness on the field and their ability to sacrifice themselves in the name of a win for their team.
Below are just a few athletes who have cemented their reputation as some of the toughest in the sporting world.
Julian Wilson – Surfing
Aussie surfer Julian Wilson is no stranger to swimming with sharks having famously been in the water when compatriot Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark at J-Bay in 2015.
Wilson was willing to get back in the water, after fellow competitor Gabriel Medina expressed his concerns on social media over the conditions at the 2018 Margaret River Pro.
Two shark attacks in the area resulted in the event being cancelled for the first time despite the willingness of Wilson and other surfers willing to get in the water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50-jz4BfS7Y
Matt Gillett – Brisbane Broncos
Broncos and Queensland star Matt Gillett is considered to be one of the toughest players in the current Broncos squad.
The star forward can consider himself lucky after playing through the early rounds of the competition this year with a broken neck.
The Broncos star fractured three vertebrae in his spine in the round one clash with the Dragons in Sydney.
Gillett miraculously avoided serious injury and will spend three months on the sidelines after the true nature of his neck pain was discovered by the club’s medical team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjcg3hki3SQ
Time Paine – Australian Cricket
New Aussie Test skipper Tim Paine is the resident ironman of the Australian Test team. The new Aussie skipper spent years on the sidelines battling serious finger injuries and was plucked from obscurity to return to the Aussie side against England in the Ashes series.
While leading the side against South Africa, Paine fractured a thumb keeping up to the stumps against swing bowler Chadd Sayers. The Aussie skipper then continued to play on in the match and batted in both innings with the fracture against one of the best bowling attacks in world cricket.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eVZJ43lMSg
Mick Fanning – Surfing
Aussie surfing legend Mick Fanning is one of the toughest athletes Australia has produced. Fanning famously survived a shark attack at the J-Bay Open in South Africa in 2015.
Fanning was attacked from behind by a great white shark while competing against fellow Australian surfer Julian Wilson at the event near Port Elizabeth.
Fanning survived unscathed, punching the shark as it broke his leg rope while attacking him from behind. The Aussie surfing legend and Julian Wilson were safely brought to shore unharmed. There can be no question marks over Fanning’s mental strength as he was straight back in the water the following month in Tahiti for the next event on the calendar.
John Sattler – Rugby League
One of the original hard men of rugby league, Sattler played as a forward for South Sydney during their golden years in the late sixties and early seventies.
Sattler is best remembered for captaining the Rabbitohs to a famous victory over arch-rivals Manly in the 1970 Grand Final at the SCG. During the first half of the game, Sattler broke his jaw in two places in after being punched by Manly’s John Bucknall.
The South Sydney leader went onto play the entire match, lifting his side to a 23-12 victory and only going for hospital treatment after he had his hands on the premiership shield.
Tony Finau – Golf
US golfer Tony Finau won’t forget his first hole-in-one anytime soon after crossing the achievement off his bucket list at the Masters par-three tournament. After nailing his shot Finau ran down the seventh fairway with his arms raised in celebration and as he turned around he dislocates his left ankle. Finau was able to put his ankle back in place and completed the event with a high ankle sprain.
Jordan Lewis – AFL
Melbourne veteran midfielder Jordan Lewis has to be applauded for his effort for his performance against Hawthorn at the MCG in round four. Playing against his former side, the midfielder broke his hand in the second quarter of the game but refused to sit on the sidelines. The veteran continued to play through the pain in a losing effort, with the Demons going down to Hawthorn by 67-points. The former premiership midfielder reaffirmed his reputation as one of the toughest at the club, but now faces a stint on sidelines after surgery.
Wayne Shelford – Rugby Union
Former All Blacks skipper Wayne Shelford ranks as one of the toughest players in the world of rugby union. In only his second international game against France, Shelford played through the game despite suffering an injury that would give most mortal men nightmares.
Shelford lost three teeth and was knocked out during the first half of play. Wanting to continue on in the game, the former Kiwi skipper suffered an eye-watering injury early in the second half. Shelford copped a stray boot from a French player and somehow finished the game with some serious damage to… the most vital parts of his anatomy.
Unaware of how serious the injury was at the time, he simply asked the team doctor to stitch up his tackle after the game. This legendary effort has certainly helped to shape the modern All Blacks legend.