CATHY Freeman, Artie Beetson, Mal Meninga, Steve Renouf, Wendell Sailor, Gorden Tallis . . . Queensland sport has been enriched by athletes of Aboriginal and Islander descent.

But long before, there were generations of sportsmen and women whose deeds have been largely forgotten.

Charlie Samuels, right, a Darling Downs-born professional runner, won the 1888 Botany Gift in Sydney and beat Britain's world champ Harry Hutchens over 150 yards in 14.9 seconds — a time which, it is estimated, would have won a 100m silver medal at the 1988 Olympics.

Eddie Gilbert, opening the Queensland attack in the first match of the 1931-32 Shield season, dismissed Wendell Bill with the first ball of the game, then sent down five scorchers at Don Bradman, getting him caught behind with the fifth. NSW was 2-0. So was Eddie Gilbert.

Alec Henry opened the bowling for Queensland seven times between 1901 and 1905. Henry played in bare feet and, like Gilbert, would be accused of "chucking".

Tom Dancey, from Hevel near Cunnamulla, won the 1910 Stawell Gift. Dancey's £1000 prize went to his trainers. He kept the cup.

Jerry Jerome, from Dalby, beat Arthur Cripps at Brisbane Stadium in 1913 to be Australian middleweight champ — as did Ipswich's Ron Richards in 1933.