Indigenous Australians

These are the kinds of stories you need to read to understand just what some athletes have overcome to establish themselves.

Across a landmark year of progress – and some regress - around issues of diversity, athletes have shared their remarkable stories about sexuality, ethnicity, religion and more. Here is a selection.

A new year offers cause for celebration, but also optimism. These are stories to make you restore your faith in the power of positivity.

From a community rebuilding after a devastating bushfire, to an athlete overcoming poverty in Africa to compete in Australia, here is a selection of PlayersVoice stories that offered hope in 2018.

Her niece and nephews were put into foster care. She took them in. This is the story of how Eunice Grimes balances foster care and a footy career.

Hawthorn Grand Final hero Cyril Rioli lost the desire to play AFL footy and retired at 28 after his dad – his hero – had a heart attack. But that's not the full story.

Look no further for the Johnathan Thurston tribute to beat them all. These are the thoughts of coaches and JT's fellow players, as they shared them right here with us on PlayersVoice.

'He’d get around with his cap on backwards and the seat in his car was so far back you could hardly see him.' Johnathan Thurston will leave the Cowboys as a statesman of the game. That's VERY different to how he entered the club.

'He has put his body in places where it just shouldn't go.' Kevvie Walters was Johnathan Thurston's last Origin coach. One act of JT bravery still stuns him to this day.

Jada Whyman's family moved out of home and into a tent to support her football journey. Memories of those cold, dark days still remain with her to this day.