Latest news with #FightMND
The Advertiser
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Chills, they're multiplying as Big Freeze fights beast
Shazza and her idol Warnie continued the good fight against the beast as Max Gawn met his Mini Me and everyone's chills were multiplying. The 10 sliders rose to the occasion at the 11th Big Freeze, the fundraiser at the MCG that honours FightMND icon and Australian Of The Year Neale Daniher. As always, amid the fun of 10 celebrities in goofy dress-up sliding into a minus-six degrees ice bath for a good cause, there was pathos and heartache. Daniher is now confined to a wheelchair and can only talk through eye recognition software as he continues his long fight against MND, which is incurable. His daughter Bec now does much of the spruiking for their cause. Big Freeze is held before the King's Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood. As Demons players warmed up, they all went to greet Daniher, the former Melbourne coach, as he completed a lap of the MCG. Collingwood players also helped form a guard of honour for him. The theme this year was Australian icons and national cricket captain Alyssa Healy was Sharon "Shazza" Strezlecki, the netballer from Kath and Kim. Magda Szubanski, who has revealed she is battling an aggressive cancer, made "Shazza" an all-time great Australian TV comedy character. Healy did it justice, complete with neck brace and a suitably stunned expression as she walked out for her slide. Former Australian captain Mark Taylor, the last slider, dressed as Shane Warne - Shazza's crush. The slide, fittingly, was set up in the shadow of the Shane Warne stand. Actor Matt Nable came as Angus Young from AC-DC and remembered his brother Aaron, who died of MND last year. Cadel Evans, the only Australian to win the Tour de France, was a miniature Max Gawn and the Melbourne captain greeted him after his slide. Gawn, who stands at 2.08m, is also an avid cyclist and Evans, all 174cm of him, is one of his idols. "Your worst day on the bike is better than my best day on a footy field," Evans told Gawn. Swimming great Ariarne Titmus was Sandy from Grease, played by Olivia Newton-John, and as the song from the movie goes, chills were multiplying in the ice bath. Former Melbourne star Aaron Davey honoured AFL and Indigenous great Michael Long, while TV presenter and former sprinter Matt Shirvington was Chris Hemsworth's movie character Thor. A $10,000 bet was made that Shirvington would stay in his costume for the flight back to Sydney. Peter Daicos, whose sons Nick and Josh were playing for the Magpies on Monday, always loves the limelight and he came as Heath Ledger's iconic Joker. National netball captain Liz Watson was in all pink as Margot Robbie's Cowgirl Barbie and motor sport great Craig Lowndes was in all black as Mad Max. Shazza and her idol Warnie continued the good fight against the beast as Max Gawn met his Mini Me and everyone's chills were multiplying. The 10 sliders rose to the occasion at the 11th Big Freeze, the fundraiser at the MCG that honours FightMND icon and Australian Of The Year Neale Daniher. As always, amid the fun of 10 celebrities in goofy dress-up sliding into a minus-six degrees ice bath for a good cause, there was pathos and heartache. Daniher is now confined to a wheelchair and can only talk through eye recognition software as he continues his long fight against MND, which is incurable. His daughter Bec now does much of the spruiking for their cause. Big Freeze is held before the King's Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood. As Demons players warmed up, they all went to greet Daniher, the former Melbourne coach, as he completed a lap of the MCG. Collingwood players also helped form a guard of honour for him. The theme this year was Australian icons and national cricket captain Alyssa Healy was Sharon "Shazza" Strezlecki, the netballer from Kath and Kim. Magda Szubanski, who has revealed she is battling an aggressive cancer, made "Shazza" an all-time great Australian TV comedy character. Healy did it justice, complete with neck brace and a suitably stunned expression as she walked out for her slide. Former Australian captain Mark Taylor, the last slider, dressed as Shane Warne - Shazza's crush. The slide, fittingly, was set up in the shadow of the Shane Warne stand. Actor Matt Nable came as Angus Young from AC-DC and remembered his brother Aaron, who died of MND last year. Cadel Evans, the only Australian to win the Tour de France, was a miniature Max Gawn and the Melbourne captain greeted him after his slide. Gawn, who stands at 2.08m, is also an avid cyclist and Evans, all 174cm of him, is one of his idols. "Your worst day on the bike is better than my best day on a footy field," Evans told Gawn. Swimming great Ariarne Titmus was Sandy from Grease, played by Olivia Newton-John, and as the song from the movie goes, chills were multiplying in the ice bath. Former Melbourne star Aaron Davey honoured AFL and Indigenous great Michael Long, while TV presenter and former sprinter Matt Shirvington was Chris Hemsworth's movie character Thor. A $10,000 bet was made that Shirvington would stay in his costume for the flight back to Sydney. Peter Daicos, whose sons Nick and Josh were playing for the Magpies on Monday, always loves the limelight and he came as Heath Ledger's iconic Joker. National netball captain Liz Watson was in all pink as Margot Robbie's Cowgirl Barbie and motor sport great Craig Lowndes was in all black as Mad Max. Shazza and her idol Warnie continued the good fight against the beast as Max Gawn met his Mini Me and everyone's chills were multiplying. The 10 sliders rose to the occasion at the 11th Big Freeze, the fundraiser at the MCG that honours FightMND icon and Australian Of The Year Neale Daniher. As always, amid the fun of 10 celebrities in goofy dress-up sliding into a minus-six degrees ice bath for a good cause, there was pathos and heartache. Daniher is now confined to a wheelchair and can only talk through eye recognition software as he continues his long fight against MND, which is incurable. His daughter Bec now does much of the spruiking for their cause. Big Freeze is held before the King's Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood. As Demons players warmed up, they all went to greet Daniher, the former Melbourne coach, as he completed a lap of the MCG. Collingwood players also helped form a guard of honour for him. The theme this year was Australian icons and national cricket captain Alyssa Healy was Sharon "Shazza" Strezlecki, the netballer from Kath and Kim. Magda Szubanski, who has revealed she is battling an aggressive cancer, made "Shazza" an all-time great Australian TV comedy character. Healy did it justice, complete with neck brace and a suitably stunned expression as she walked out for her slide. Former Australian captain Mark Taylor, the last slider, dressed as Shane Warne - Shazza's crush. The slide, fittingly, was set up in the shadow of the Shane Warne stand. Actor Matt Nable came as Angus Young from AC-DC and remembered his brother Aaron, who died of MND last year. Cadel Evans, the only Australian to win the Tour de France, was a miniature Max Gawn and the Melbourne captain greeted him after his slide. Gawn, who stands at 2.08m, is also an avid cyclist and Evans, all 174cm of him, is one of his idols. "Your worst day on the bike is better than my best day on a footy field," Evans told Gawn. Swimming great Ariarne Titmus was Sandy from Grease, played by Olivia Newton-John, and as the song from the movie goes, chills were multiplying in the ice bath. Former Melbourne star Aaron Davey honoured AFL and Indigenous great Michael Long, while TV presenter and former sprinter Matt Shirvington was Chris Hemsworth's movie character Thor. A $10,000 bet was made that Shirvington would stay in his costume for the flight back to Sydney. Peter Daicos, whose sons Nick and Josh were playing for the Magpies on Monday, always loves the limelight and he came as Heath Ledger's iconic Joker. National netball captain Liz Watson was in all pink as Margot Robbie's Cowgirl Barbie and motor sport great Craig Lowndes was in all black as Mad Max.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Golden girl Ariarne Titmus steals the show in the AFL Big Freeze as full house sign goes up at MCG to honour MND battler Neale Daniher
The 2025 AFL Big Freeze delivered another unforgettable spectacle, this time to a full house at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Neale Daniher is more than a former AFL coach. He is a national hero. Diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2013, Daniher chose to fight back - not just for himself, but for every Australian impacted by the cruel, incurable condition. The former Essendon star and Melbourne coach co-founded FightMND in 2014, launching the now-iconic 'Big Freeze' as its flagship event. Held annually at the MCG on the King's Birthday public holiday, it has raised over $115million for MND research and support services. Ten years on, the 2025 AFL Big Freeze was the biggest yet - played to a full house of fans who turned out to honour Daniher's legacy and laugh, cheer and shed a tear in equal measures. Before the King's Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne, Australia's sporting elite lined up to take the plunge in icy water, raising funds and awareness in Daniher's name. First down the slide? None other than Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus. Wearing a sparkling pink outfit inspired by Olivia Newton-John's Grease role, Titmus opened the show with flair and heart - setting the tone for an unforgettable afternoon. Cycling legend Cadel Evans followed, rocking an outfit that made him look like a miniature version of Melbourne Demons captain Max Gawn. It was capped off with Gawn himself waiting at the bottom to congratulate him. Collingwood royalty Peter Daicos appeared dressed as the Joker, telling Tim Watson, 'I'm at home… this is how I dress normally.' With sons Nick and Josh preparing for the match elsewhere in the MCG, Daicos soaked in the spotlight solo. Actor and former footy player Matt Nable descended dressed as Angus Young from AC/DC, guitar in hand, channeling pure rock energy. Netball star Liz Watson came out dressed as Barbie, paying tribute to Margot Robbie in full pink - crop top and all. Matt Shirvington followed in full Thor gear, complete with hammer and dramatic cape that nearly took his head off during his icy landing. Australian cricket captain Alyssa Healy earned huge cheers dressed as Sharon Strzelecki from Kath & Kim, honouring Magda Szubanski, who recently announced a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Former Melbourne Demons fan favourite Aaron Davey wore the red and black once more, this time dressed as Bombers icon Michael Long - linking the moment to his time under Daniher's coaching leadership. V8 great Craig Lowndes brought Mad Max to the slide before closing act Mark Taylor came out as the late Shane Warne, complete with floppy white hat and a ball in hand. 'I'm coming out at No.10, where Warnie should've batted,' he said, bringing the crowd to its feet. But despite all the colour and costumes, the heart of the Big Freeze has always been Neale Daniher. Daniher debuted for Essendon in 1979, captained the club in 1982, and overcame serious injury to remain a beloved part of Bombers history. Later, as coach of Melbourne from 1998 to 2007, he led the club to multiple finals, including a Grand Final appearance in 2000. When MND hit, Daniher didn't retreat. He rallied. He used his public profile to raise awareness, fund research, and inspire courage in the face of despair.
News.com.au
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Every Big Freeze 11 slider takes the plunge
From Ariarne Titmus to Mark Taylor, watch every slider from Big Freeze 11 take the plunge to raise funds and awareness for FightMND.
West Australian
09-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Ariarne Titmus walks away from Brisbane 2032 Olympics days before losing 400m freestyle world record
Australian legend Ariarne Titmus has declared she will not hang around to swim at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics — days before a young rival emphatically took her 400m freestyle world record. Titmus has been out of the pool since the end of a Paris 2024 campaign that reiterated her status as one of the sport's champions. But while the 24-year-old has rested and had a taste of life after swimming , her nearest rival has soared to new heights. After being beaten to gold by Titmus last year Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh smashed the Aussie's world record at the Canadian trials over the weekend. McIntosh clocked 3:54.18 — an astonishing 1.2 seconds faster than Titmus's previous mark from the 2023 world championships final. 'Touching the wall, you can kind of see my outburst of emotions because I was really not expecting that time. But overall I'm super, super happy,' McIntosh said. 'I think just seeing the time after two years of really pushing my hardest every day and training in this event and not seeing the results... 'So just kind of all that energy and anger and blood, sweat and tears built up and then finally having an amazing swim in it is just really, really satisfying.' McIntosh is gearing up to chase gold at the 2025 world championships against American legend Katie Ledecky. Titmus, meanwhile, will head down the slide for FightMND's Big Freeze 11 fundraiser at Monday's AFL blockbuster — one last cold plunge before jumping back into the familiar surrounds of a 50m pool. Her eyes are firmly on retaining her 400m crown at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, and no further. 'I know that this is the tail end of my career, I know that the LA Olympics will be my last,' Titmus said on Two Am I . With so much focus on her LA 2028 return, Titmus has never been so categorical on retiring before Brisbane 2032. She will 31 and just weeks away from turning 32 when the Queensland capital joins Melbourne (1956) and Sydney (2000) as an Olympic host city. Australia has never had a woman aged 31 or older swim at the Olympics, though Emma McKeon won one gold, one silver and one bronze at Paris 2024 soon after her 30th birthday. But life after swimming is far more important to Titmus than a slice of history. 'I just don't want to be an athlete that retires from their sport and is lost and has nothing to do,' she said. 'I think that it was so important for me to channel different areas of my life to know that when I do leave the sport behind, I'm going to be alright.' Titmus said she maintained high-volume training loads from the age of 13 to 21 and had never had more than two weeks off at a time. Two months off after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 gave her a taste of normal life, a precursor to a busy past 12 months. Titmus's absence from Brisbane 2032 in her adopted home state of Queensland would be a big blow for Australia, though fresh faces would doubtless emerge to contend for gold alongside a 28-year-old Mollie O'Callaghan. Kaylee McKeown, who turns 24 next month, has also previously declared she will not swim beyond Los Angeles 2028. McKeown will be the headline act at the Australian trials this week as the swimming world hones in on the world championships beginning in late July. Meanwhile at the Canadian trials, McIntosh set a marker ahead of her battle with Ledecky. Titmus and McIntosh have gone toe-to-tie since the Aussie first surpassed Ledecky in 2021. Titmus took Ledecky's Olympic crown in Tokyo then came for her world record in 2022. McIntosh claimed the world record for the first time in March the following year but Titmus responded in style just months later. She set a new world record of 3:55.38 to win gold at the 2023 world championships, with McIntosh missing out on the medals. Titmus then won gold at Paris 2024 by almost a second over McIntosh while Ledecky claimed bronze.
Perth Now
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Titmus walks away from Brisbane Olympics days before losing world record
Australian legend Ariarne Titmus has declared she will not hang around to swim at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics — days before a young rival emphatically took her 400m freestyle world record. Titmus has been out of the pool since the end of a Paris 2024 campaign that reiterated her status as one of the sport's champions. But while the 24-year-old has rested and had a taste of life after swimming, her nearest rival has soared to new heights. After being beaten to gold by Titmus last year Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh smashed the Aussie's world record at the Canadian trials over the weekend. McIntosh clocked 3:54.18 — an astonishing 1.2 seconds faster than Titmus's previous mark from the 2023 world championships final. 'Touching the wall, you can kind of see my outburst of emotions because I was really not expecting that time. But overall I'm super, super happy,' McIntosh said. 'I think just seeing the time after two years of really pushing my hardest every day and training in this event and not seeing the results... 'So just kind of all that energy and anger and blood, sweat and tears built up and then finally having an amazing swim in it is just really, really satisfying.' McIntosh is gearing up to chase gold at the 2025 world championships against American legend Katie Ledecky. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Titmus, meanwhile, will head down the slide for FightMND's Big Freeze 11 fundraiser at Monday's AFL blockbuster — one last cold plunge before jumping back into the familiar surrounds of a 50m pool. Her eyes are firmly on retaining her 400m crown at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, and no further. 'I know that this is the tail end of my career, I know that the LA Olympics will be my last,' Titmus said on Two Am I. With so much focus on her LA 2028 return, Titmus has never been so categorical on retiring before Brisbane 2032. She will 31 and just weeks away from turning 32 when the Queensland capital joins Melbourne (1956) and Sydney (2000) as an Olympic host city. Australia has never had a woman aged 31 or older swim at the Olympics, though Emma McKeon won one gold, one silver and one bronze at Paris 2024 soon after her 30th birthday. But life after swimming is far more important to Titmus than a slice of history. 'I just don't want to be an athlete that retires from their sport and is lost and has nothing to do,' she said. 'I think that it was so important for me to channel different areas of my life to know that when I do leave the sport behind, I'm going to be alright.' Titmus said she maintained high-volume training loads from the age of 13 to 21 and had never had more than two weeks off at a time. Two months off after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 gave her a taste of normal life, a precursor to a busy past 12 months. Two legends and a rising star: Katie Ledecky, Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh share the 400m freestyle podium at Paris 2024. Credit: AAP Titmus's absence from Brisbane 2032 in her adopted home state of Queensland would be a big blow for Australia, though fresh faces would doubtless emerge to contend for gold alongside a 28-year-old Mollie O'Callaghan. Kaylee McKeown, who turns 24 next month, has also previously declared she will not swim beyond Los Angeles 2028. McKeown will be the headline act at the Australian trials this week as the swimming world hones in on the world championships beginning in late July. Meanwhile at the Canadian trials, McIntosh set a marker ahead of her battle with Ledecky. Titmus and McIntosh have gone toe-to-tie since the Aussie first surpassed Ledecky in 2021. Titmus took Ledecky's Olympic crown in Tokyo then came for her world record in 2022. McIntosh claimed the world record for the first time in March the following year but Titmus responded in style just months later. She set a new world record of 3:55.38 to win gold at the 2023 world championships, with McIntosh missing out on the medals. Titmus then won gold at Paris 2024 by almost a second over McIntosh while Ledecky claimed bronze.
