Australian Olympic icon and Noosa legend Dawn Fraser is recovering in hospital from hip surgery after a fall last week at her daughter Dawn-Lorraine’s place in which she broke her hip and four ribs.
Family friend Ian Hanson told the ABC the 87-year-old was back up walking again after emergency surgery last Thursday.
Dawn-Lorraine thanked the doctors and nursing staff saying she could not be happier with her mum’s progress.
In a statement, Olympic gold medallist Lani Pallister said she was relieved to hear her godmother was doing well and receiving the care she needed from her family and the hospital staff.
“Dawn is not just an extraordinary athlete and icon, she is an incredibly special part of our life, and her wellbeing is always in our thoughts, regardless of any injury or illness she may face,” she said.
Mr Hanson said Fraser would remain in hospital for rehabilitation and the family asked that she be given privacy to continue her recovery.
In sporting terms Dawn is a phenomenon whose international accolades include World Athlete of the Century.
Nationally in 1999 she was hailed Athlete of the Century by the Australian Sports Hall of Fame and National Living Treasure a year earlier.
She won her first Olympic gold medal in 1956 in Melbourne, winning the 100m freestyle in record time, gold in the 100m freestyle relay and silver 400m freestyle.
In 1958 she won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales and gold at the Rome Olympics in the 100m freestyle in 1960.
She picked up another four gold medals at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, becoming the first woman to swim 100m under one minute, and won her final gold medal in 1964 at the Tokyo Olympics in the 100m freestyle.
She has given back to her sport and other sports in numerous ways including as a mentor for able and disabled Australian Olympic Teams and founding member of the Laurels Sports Academy. She maintains an active role in the sporting and wider community and is actively involved in the Noosa Heads Surf Lifesavers Seahorse Nippers for children with special needs.
