Aussies rally around Dawn Fraser as family provides positive update on injured sporting legend

Dawn Fraser's family has revealed the Australian swimming legend is up and walking after being hospitalised with serious injuries. The 87-year-old is in hospital in Queensland after suffering a fall at her home in Noosa in which she sustained multiple injuries, including four broken ribs and a fractured hip.

Initial reports stated that Fraser was in a critical condition, but her daughter Dawn-Lorraine Ware has since revealed she's doing much better after being admitted to intensive care. “Mum has scared the daylights out of us. But to see her up and about today is the best Christmas present we could have asked for," she said in a statement.

"She is one tough lady. Huge thanks to the doctors and nursing staff who have been amazing. I can’t thank them enough. They could not be happier with Mum’s progress.”

Fraser was hospitalised on Wednesday last week and had emergency surgery to replace the fractured hip. She remained in hospital on Monday when news of her ordeal was made public, although she's now out of intensive care.

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll led the public in rallying around Fraser with messages of support. “Dawn is an Olympic legend and she has continued to give back to sportfor decades. We wish her the best in her recovery," he said.

Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse said: “Dawn is a living treasure - an icon of our sport - and we wish her a speedy, healthy and full recovery.” Messages of support have also been flowing in on social media.

Dawn Fraser one of Australia's greatest athletes

Fraser is one of Australia's greatest sporting legends. She held 39 records and won eight Olympic medals for Australia, including four gold. She held the women's 100m freestyle world record for 15 years from 1956 to 1972, and was the first of only four swimmers in Olympics history to win gold in the same event in three consecutive Games (100m freestyle in 1956, 1960 and 1964).

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She was named World Athlete of the Century at the World Sports Awards in 1999, and became the first female athlete to be elevated to Legend status by the Australian Sport Hall of Fame in 1993. The Hall committee wrote of her induction: “Dawn Fraser was … one of the most decorated athletes in Australian sport historywhile demonstrating the larrikin behaviour to match her ability.

"Her record in the pool included eight Olympic medals, six British Empire and Commonwealth gold medals and setting 23 individual world records. Dawn’s dominance of the 100m freestyle was part of her legacy, claiming the Olympic title at the 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome and 1964 Tokyo Games, the first swimmer (of either gender) to win gold in three successive Games.”