Ash Barty hailed as Australia’s top sports personality for 2024

Ash Barty fans will be excited (but not altogether surprised) that the retired tennis ace and multi-talented sportswoman, has taken the top spot as Australia’s most popular sports personality for a second year running.

The Australian Talent Index’s 2024 Top Talent Report showed that three-time grand slam winner, Barty, retained her number one spot on the list while Matilda’s captain, Sam Kerr, jumped seven places to take second place.

Wheelchair tennis star and radio host, Dylan Alcott took third place.

The index functions as a talent gauge, encompassing public perceptions and sentiments toward various Australian figures, spanning celebrities, actors, broadcasters, sports stars, and politicians.

Scores are determined by subtracting the number of individuals who held negative views of a personality from those who expressed positive sentiments, resulting in a scale ranging from -100 (widespread disapproval) to +100 (widespread approval).

Conducted nationwide, the survey involved over 5,000 Australians who evaluated over 300 personalities, offering insights into public perceptions and providing qualitative feedback on their sentiments towards each personality.

These are Australia’s top 10 favourite sports stars according to the index:

1. Ash Barty +46
2. Sam Kerr +31
3. Dylan Alcott +29
4. Daniel Ricciardo +24
5. Greg Norman +22
6. Mary Fowler +21
7. Travis Head +19
8. Alex de Minaur +19
9. Glenn Maxwell +18
10. Marnus Labuschagne +16

In March 2022, Ash Barty shocked the tennis world when she retired from the sport where she’d achieved so much at just 25 years old.

Two years down the line, the sports star who is also an ace golfer, has no regrets about her decision.

Speaking to the New York Times early in 2023, Barty admitted she was surprisingly “comfortable” with walking away from tennis.

“To be honest, I think what has surprised me most is how comfortable I’ve been,” she said at the time.

“I think there was probably a normal fear or uncertainty in not knowing what my life would look like after tennis after being so focused.

“I was a bit unsure how I would deal with that because I am a person who likes to be organised.

“There was probably a little bit of fear in that, but overall, that hasn’t been an issue, a concern or a worry.

“What’s been surprising in a good way is that I’ve slipped quite seamlessly into this life that’s just like everyone else, which is kind of always what I wanted.”

Amidst speculation she may return to the tennis court, Barty has kept busy writing a series of children’s books, released her memoir, and even won a women’s golfing tournament in Queensland.

She was also appointed as Chief of Inspiration by Australian telecom giant, Optus. 

Barty then embraced motherhood after giving birth to a son, Hayden, in 2023 and since then has thoroughly enjoyed life with her new bundle of joy. 

With her latest top sporting personality of the year accolade, the Aussie champion is evidently showing no signs of slowing down since hanging up her racket in 2022.