Vote to immortalise Freney in wax
Swimming Australia
Published: Dec 18, 2012 12:30:18 PM Updated: Jan 7, 2013 11:08:37 AM
Paralympian of the Year, Jacqueline Freney, is one of six Australian sporting stars in the running to be immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds Sydney.
The eight-time Paralympic swimming gold medallist was the most successful athlete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and joins Australian sporting legends Wally Lewis, Lauren Jackson, John Eales, Mick Fanning and Glenn McGrath in the publicly voted competition.
It is the first time a vote has been opened to the Australian public on which sporting star should next be immortalised in wax at the Sydney Madame Tussauds museum. The winner will stand alongside the likes of Rod Laver, Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe.
Freney, 20, was not only the most successful athlete of the London Paralympic Games but became the most successful Australian ever at a single Games, winning eight gold from eight events. With six individual victories, two relay wins and two world records, her anchor leg of the 4x100m medley relay in her final race remains one of the finest performances of the Games.
“I am very flattered and excited to be recognised as an Australian sporting hero that could be immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds Sydney,” said Freney.
“I have looked at some of these figures before and it never ceases to amaze me how life-like they look.
“It would be quite an exciting process and, I must say, an absolute honour to be chosen and to have my figure standing alongside some of the sporting greats already in the attraction.”
Voting will close on Friday 18 January and the winner will be announced early February. The successful athlete will then have over 250 measurements taken by the Madame Tussauds team. A dedicated team of over 60 artists and sculptors will then take approximately 800 hours to create the figure.
Fans of Freney can vote at the Madame Tussauds Facebook page: www.facebook.com/madametussaudssydney
Upcoming Events
