Jelena Dokic in tears during emotional Logies speech

News.com.au

9 hours ago

Jelena Dokic has fought back tears as she delivered a powerful speech at the Logie Awards on Sunday night.
The former tennis star stole the show on Australian television's night of nights with an impromptu victory speech at The Star in Sydney.
The 42-year-old said she was in 'complete shock' when she walked onto the stage to accept the award for the Best Factual or Documentary Program.
Dokic's 'Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story' feature was a popular winner when going up against productions like Channel 7's 'Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story'.
After wowing fans with her glamorous look on the Logies Awards red carpet, Dokic delivered a speech many viewers will not forget.
The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist's big moment came just 76 days after the death of her estranged father Damir Dokic.
The much-loved former world No. 4 tennis player survived physical and emotional abuse from her father and has been an inspiration for many as she manages her childhood trauma.
It's one of the reasons her speech was so moving.
'I know you said 30 seconds but I will need at least 30 to gather myself,' she said.
'I'm actually in shock. I didn't think this was possible and I didn't have a speech prepared.
'I want to say a massive thank you to every single person who voted, not just the fans, but the industry. And not because of me. But because the hard stories and the difficult topics need to be told to create awareness.
'This is something that we did not even talk about 10 years ago. Now we have it in books and on screen.
'This is not about winning. This is about a win for victims and survivors, especially of domestic violence and mental health.'
'To every kid and person out there, I will say to every single girl and woman out there, never allow anyone to take your worth or happiness or smile away.
'Believe in your goals and dreams. I am standing here as someone who literally had that dream. I believed in it. I didn't give up on it. If I can do it you can do it too.'
Speaking about fellow tennis great — and Channel 9 co-host — Todd Woodbridge was the moment that brought her to breaking point.
'Lastly Todd Woodbridge, you're my person,' she said, holding back tears.
'I say that, and this makes me cry so much, because when I sat down at that table with you 11 years ago when I retired and you said to me that I can be a commentator and bring my story to life, I looked at you and I said to you 'I don't know who you are talking about but you are not talking about me.'
'I was a person who couldn't string two sentences together and had no skills.
'You believed in me professionally. I hope everyone finds a Todd like I did.
'You're a massive reason why I'm here, I'm standing here in every single way.
'I say if everyone can have a father and mentor like Todd they would be very fortunate.'
In a speech that went well over the time allowed on the running sheet, Dokic also thanked figures behind the scenes of the production.
'You made this happen. We would not even have sat down at the table to talk about this possibility if it wasn't for you,' she said.
'I can't thank you enough for believing in me and bringing this story to screen because I certainly didn't when we sat down. I said to all of you, 'You really think this is possible?' Thank you for doing that.'
TV cameras showed Woodbridge was in the crowd smiling from ear to ear as Dokic gave him a special mention.
Dokic has emerged as one of the most cherished figures in Australian sport in her advocacy for sufferers of abuse and mental health.
The final message she shared about her father shows how raw the trauma of her abuse remains.
'My father passed away in the late hours on 16.05.2025,' she wrote.
'As you know my relationship with my father has been difficult and painful with a lot of history.
'Despite everything and no matter how hard, difficult and in the last 10 years even non-existent our relationship and communication was, it is never easy losing a parent and a father even one you are estranged from.
'The loss of an estranged parent comes with a difficult and complicated grief.
'It's an end of a chapter and life as I know it.'