How potato farmer Cliff Young outran the world’s best athletes | Australian Story

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 08:51:12 +0000

Australians love an underdog and in May 1983, the entire nation cheered on an unlikely sporting hero – 61-year-old potato farmer Cliff Young.

When Cliff won the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne ultramarathon, he shuffled his way into the Australian folklore. Songs were written about him; a movie was made.

More than 40 years on from his astonishing run, friends and fellow runners look back at a simple man who showed you’re never too old to fulfil a dream.

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