Sport in Tasmania

Outside general recreational activities such as walking, gym or bushwalking, the most popular sports in Tasmania are swimming, athletics/track and field, cycling/mountain biking, golf and Australian rules football.

[5] Other current professional franchises in national competitions include the Tasmania cricket team, the Hobart Hurricanes (Big Bash League) and the Tassie Tigers (Hockey One).

[7] In the fiscal year 2020/21, the Tasmanian Government allocated nearly $2,000,000 (AUD) in funding for organised sports, primarily focusing on Australian rules football, basketball, cricket, and soccer.

Prominent players from Tasmania include David Boon, Charles Eady, John Marshall, Laurie Nash, and Ricky Ponting.

Regular eleven-a-side matches with mainland colonies resumed in 1889, but Tasmania was left out of early efforts to form a national cricket administration in the 1890s.

[12] Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tasmanian cricket developed steadily, though the team faced challenges due to geographic isolation and limited opportunities for competitive play against other colonies.

It wasn't until the 1977-78 season that Tasmania was admitted into the Sheffield Shield on a full-time basis, allowing the team to compete regularly against other states in Australia's premier domestic competition.

Current key players include Matthew Wade, Ben McDermott, Peter Siddle, Beau Webster and former captain of the Australia national cricket team, Tim Paine.

The Hobart Hurricanes men's team have been a competitive side in the Big Bash League with notable individual performances and several strong seasons.

Contributing factors include limited financial resources, difficulties in attracting and retaining top talent due to Tasmania's geographical isolation, and fluctuating fan support.

Netball Tasmania currently partners with the Collingwood Magpies to host some home games in Launceston and aims to establish its own team based in Hobart.

During the Great Depression, professional boxing provided financial support to many families, and Tasmanian boxers achieved national titles and international recognition, including William Herbert Smith's gold medal at the 1938 British Empire Games.

[32] Some of the most prominent Tasmanian cyclists include Will Clarke and olympians Michael Grenda, Timothy O'Shannessey, Amy Cure, Matthew Goss, Scott Bowden, Georgia Baker, and Richie Porte.

Tasmania's trails range from rainforest tracks and alpine paths to coastal routes, with infrastructure such as bike rentals and shuttle services.

Tasmania played its last competitive interstate match in the 1990 State of Origin series, culminating in a notable victory over Victoria at North Hobart Oval with an attendance of 18,651 patrons.

[37] Tasmania has produced several notable Australian Football League (AFL) players who have made significant contributions to the sport, including Peter Hudson, Roy Cazaly, Darrel Baldock, Alastair Lynch, Matthew Richardson and Ian Stewart.

FFT is also dedicated to grassroots development, organising junior leagues, coaching clinics, and community programs to increase participation and foster a love for the game.

FFT is actively pursuing the possibility of establishing an A-League club in Tasmania to provide local players with a pathway to professional careers and to meet the strong community interest in elite football.

[55] It also administers the senior Tasmanian representative club The Tassie Tigers which fields a Men's and a Women's team in the elite national domestic competition Hockey One which generally plays its annual home and away season in the months of September, October, and November across Australia.

The Australian Grand Prix was twice held in Tasmania, at the Longford Circuit, in 1959 and 1965. Notable Tasmanian motorsport champions include John Bowe and Marcos Ambrose, who won the V8 Supercar championship in 2003 and 2004 before relocating to the United States to race in NASCAR.

Tasmania has produced notable Real Tennis World Championship players including Robert Fahey and Judith Clarke, who have made significant contributions to the sport's legacy both locally and internationally.

Despite its exclusivity and specialised nature, real tennis continues to thrive in Tasmania, supported by dedicated players and enthusiasts who appreciate its traditions and competitive intricacies.

The Tasmanian Institute of Sport continues to support competitive rowing, with recent champions such as Stephen Hawkins and Dana Faletic making significant international impacts.

[69] Lightweight rowing World Champion and olympian Stephen Hawkins first represented Australia at just 17 and won a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the double sculls with his partner Peter Antonie at 22.

Rowing has since produced more Tasmanian olympians than any other sport, including Anthony Edwards (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), Duncan Free (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008), Simon Burgess (1996, 2000, 2004), Darren Balmforth (2000), Brendan Long (2004), Cameron Wurf (2004), Dana Faletic (2004, 2012), Kerry Hore (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Scott Brennan (2004, 2008, 2012), Kate Hornsey (2008, 2012), Samuel Beltz (2008, 2012), Tom Gibson (2008, 2012), Meaghan Volker (2016) and Sarah Hawe (2020).

Tasmania's most successful Paralympian swimmer, Melissa Carlton, earned multiple medals—including gold, silver, and bronze—while representing Australia at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Paralympics.

[80] Moreover, Athletics South oversees regional track and field competitions held during the summer season (October - March) and organises winter cross country events (April - September) in southern Tasmania.

Tasmania's most notable javelin thrower is William Hamlyn-Harris, who represented Australia at the 2004 Summer Olympics[32] and won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Yacht racing in Tasmania is deeply ingrained in the state's maritime culture, offering enthusiasts a chance to test their skills against the elements while showcasing the island's stunning coastal scenery.

[81] Tasmania's unique geographical features, including the challenging waters of the River Derwent and the unpredictable weather of Bass Strait, present a formidable yet rewarding environment for yacht racing.