AFL icon Lance 'Buddy' Franklin has stunned the sporting world by revealing his latest athletic accomplishment - and he insists it's the most demanding challenge he's ever faced throughout his storied career.
The Sydney Swans superstar, renowned for his incredible football prowess and record-breaking performances, has successfully completed the Sydney Marathon, describing the 42.2km ordeal as "the toughest thing I've ever done in sport."
From Football Field to Marathon Finish Line
Franklin, who retired from professional AFL in 2023 after an extraordinary 19-season career, traded his football boots for running shoes in pursuit of this gruelling personal challenge. The transition from explosive team sport to solitary endurance running proved more demanding than even this seasoned athlete anticipated.
"People might think running a marathon can't compare to the physical demands of AFL," Franklin shared. "But the mental and physical toll of pushing through those final kilometres was unlike anything I've experienced on the football field."
The Training Regimen That Tested a Champion
The marathon preparation required a complete overhaul of Franklin's training approach. Where AFL prioritises explosive power, speed and recovery, marathon training demanded consistent mileage and mental fortitude.
Key challenges Franklin faced included:
- Adapting to high-volume running after years of impact-based training
- Managing the mental monotony of long-distance running
- Balancing recovery with increasing training loads
- Learning new nutrition and hydration strategies
Why This Achievement Tops His Football Career
For an athlete who achieved virtually everything possible in AFL - including kicking 1000 goals, winning multiple premierships and earning numerous individual accolades - the marathon represented a different kind of mountain to climb.
"In football, you have teammates to lift you up when you're struggling," Franklin explained. "Out there on the marathon course, it's just you and your own mind. When you hit that wall around the 32km mark, there's no one to handball to, no crowd roaring you on in the same way."
What's Next for the Retired Champion?
While Franklin hasn't committed to another marathon, he acknowledges the experience has given him a new perspective on athletic achievement and personal limits.
"This journey taught me that there are different types of toughness," he reflected. "The endurance required for marathon running is completely different from what we train for in football, but both test you in ways that make you grow as an athlete and as a person."
The achievement adds another remarkable chapter to Franklin's sporting legacy, proving that true champions can excel beyond their primary discipline.
