Queensland Sporting Heroes: Meet the 2026 Legend & Hall of Fame Inductees
Queensland’s sporting industry is built on achievement, and shaped by extraordinary individuals whose achievements, dedication and unwavering commitments have left an undeniable mark on our state’s sporting history. United by maroon blood coursing through their veins and an enduring pride in representing Queensland, these individuals have pushed boundaries, inspired generations and helped define what it means to be part of Queensland’s rich sporting legacy.
QSport is proud to announce the 2026 Queensland Sport Hall of Fame Inductees and the Queensland Sport Legend, recognising an exceptional group of individuals whose contributions to sport extend far beyond medals, records and accolades. From remarkable performances on the national and international stage to decades of dedication behind the scenes, their influence has helped shape the sporting landscape of Queensland and paved the way for those who follow. Their stories are woven into the fabric of Queensland sport. Their achievements are a part of our history. Their legacy will endure for generations.
Your Hall of Fame Inductees
Shannon Eckstein: A Champion of the Surf
Few athletes have dominated their sport quite like Queensland’s own Shannon Eckstein. Widely regarded as one of the greatest surf lifesaving competitors of all time, Eckstein built an extraordinary career through an exceptional combination of athletic versatility, determination and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. Across two decades at the highest level, Eckstein claimed a record eight Australian Ironman Championships, forty-three Australian Championship gold medals across multiple disciplines, nine professional series victories and six World Ironman titles.
His achievements extended beyond individual success, representing Australia on the international stage and later contributing to the development of the next generation through the national team’s coaching staff. Eckstein’s legacy is one of sustained excellence and an extraordinary contribution to Australian surf lifesaving, inspiring generations to follow in his footsteps.
Tom McArthur: A Legend Beyond the Whistle
A true pioneer of Queensland umpiring, the late Tom McArthur dedicated more than four decades to Australian Rules Football, establishing a legacy that would leave an enduring mark on the game. After his playing career ended, McArthur turned his attention to umpiring in 1959. What began as an alternative pathway became an incredible twenty-six-year career, during which he officiated a national record of 502 senior games. His remarkable career included fourteen QAFL Grand Finals, ten Queensland state representative matches and seven interstate Grand Final appointments. His influence and standing within the game were further recognised when he was named Queensland Umpire of the Century in 2003.
In 2006, McArthur became the first Queensland based resident inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, a fitting recognition of his contribution to the sport. Beyond records and accolades, McArthur was respected as a mentor to generations of Queensland umpires, helping mold the future of officiating across the state.
His posthumous induction into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame honours a life dedicated to the game and a legacy that continues to inspire those who follow.
Martin Love: A Class Act with the Bat
Born in Mundubbera, Queensland, Martin Love carved out an outstanding cricket career through consistency, determination and an exceptional ability with the bat. Representing Queensland from the early 1990s through to 2009, Love became one of the state’s most accomplished first-class cricketers, establishing himself as a dependable presence in the Queensland batting line-up.
His performances at a domestic level earned him Australian Test selection, making his international debut against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day 2002. Across five Test appearances for Australia, love scored 233 runs, including a memorable unbeaten century against Bangladesh in 2003. His domestic career was equally impressive, highlighted by a remarkable unbeaten 300 against Victoria in 2003-04 season, demonstrating the impressive batting ability that made him such a respected figure in Queensland cricket.
From regional Queensland beginnings to representing his state and country, Love’s career reflects the depth of talent and sporting excellence produced across our state.
Chris Close: A Queensland Rugby League Original
A proud Queensland representative, Chris Close played an important role in the formative years of State of Origin, helping establish the fierce Queensland identity and determination that would become synonymous with the Maroons. Representing Queensland on nine occasions between 1980 and 1986, Close was part of an era that helped lay the foundations for one of Australian sport’s greatest rivalries.
His contribution to the game extended beyond his playing career. Close remained involved in Queensland rugby league through team management and continued to share his knowledge and experiences through motivational speaking. His commitment to the Maroons and the wider rugby league community reflects the lasting influence of those who helped build the foundations of Queensland’s Origin tradition.
His induction recognises not only his achievements on the field, but his ongoing connection to the game and the Queensland sporting community.
Karyn Murphy APM: A Trailblazer Who Changed the Game
Few individuals have made a more significant contribution to the growth of women’s rugby league than Queensland’s Karyn Murphy APM. A gifted playmaker and natural leader, Murphy enjoyed an outstanding playing career spanning more than fifteen years, representing Australia in twenty-eight Tests and competing across four Rugby League World Cup campaigns. Her leadership helped mold an important chapter in the history of the Jillaroos, captaining Australia to its first-ever Women’s Rugby League World Cup victory in 2013. At state level, Murphy was equally influential. She captained Queensland in the inaugural women’s interstate fixture in 1999 and helped lead the Maroons through an inspiring seventeen-year unbeaten run against New South Wales.
Murphy’s impact extended well beyond her playing achievements. She helped create opportunities and pathways for future generations of female rugby league players, contributing to the foundations of the professional women’s game we see today. Her contribution has been recognised through the naming of the Karyn Murphy Medal, awarded to the player of the match in the NRLW Grand Final, and her induction into the NRL Hall of Fame 2024.
Alongside her sporting achievements, Murphy’s service as a Queensland police officer was recognised with the Australian Police Medal (APM) in 2005.
From representing the women’s game as a player to leading its next generation as the NRLW Head Coach of the Gold Coast Titans, Murphy’s legacy is one of leadership, courage and breaking barriers.
Queensland Sport Legend
Stephanie Rice OAM OLY: Olympic Champion Elevated to Legend
Few triumphs in Australian sporting history have captured the nation’s imagination quite like Stephanie Rice OAM OLY’s extraordinary performances at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Born in Brisbane, Rice announced herself on the world stage at just twenty-years-old of age, delivering one of the most remarkable performances in Australian Olympic swimming history.
Competing in the 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley and 4 x 200m freestyle relay, Rice claimed three Olympic gold medals, setting world records in all three events. Her achievements placed her among an elite group of Australian athletes to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games, cementing her place in the history of Australian swimming. Rice’s success extended beyond Beining, with two Commonwealth Games gold medals and further podium finishes at the World Championships. Her accolades were recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2009, followed by induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2019.
A proud Queenslander, Rice’s achievements inspired a generation of young swimmers and showcased the extraordinary talent emerging from our state. Her elevation to Legend of Queensland Sport recognised a career that transcended sporting success, celebrating an athlete whose achievements have become an enduring part of Queensland’s sporting identity.
Celebrating Queensland Sporting Legacy
The 2026 Queensland Sport Awards and Hall of Fame Inductees and Legend represent the very best of Queensland’s history. All six recipients will be formally recognised at the 2026 Queensland Sport Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Night on Thursday, 26th November, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
An evening dedicated to celebrating the people, achievements and stories that make Queensland what it is today.
Event Information
2026 Queensland Sport Awards and Hall of Fame Induction night.
- Date: Thursday, 26th November 2026.
- Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
- Time: 5:00pm – 9:30pm.
- Tickets and event information here.
Acknowledgement
QSport acknowledges the ongoing support of the Queensland Government.