Sydney Swans champion Buddy Franklin has shown off his new physique after turning to long-distance running since he left the AFL.
Franklin, 38, competed in the ‘Mother’s Day Classic’ event on Sunday, joining Aussies who walk or run from 4km to 21.1km to raise money for life-saving breast and ovarian cancer research.
In a marked contrast to his jacked physique from years gone by, Franklin is looking noticeably slimmer after dedicating himself to getting into shape to run marathons.
The AFL icon took part in the half-marathon at the Melbourne edition of the Classic, which attracted thousands of competitors.
It comes after he transformed himself in order to tackle the New York Marathon.
Franklin has been open about competing in long-distance running, and has made his diet and training habits public.
Buddy Franklin (pictured) has shown off his markedly trimmed-down physique at the Mother’s Day Classic in Melbourne
The AFL legend (pictured second from left) is cutting a different figure after competing in several long-distance running events
The Swans and Hawks icon (pictured) has transformed his body since his playing days finished in 2023
Franklin, one of the AFL’s greatest ever players, first went public with his interest in long-distance events last year.
The father of three joined NRL legend Johnathan Thurston to complete a gruelling endurance run in order to qualify for the New York Marathon.
Both men are members of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) and began running together for the not-for-profit organisation last July.
That month saw the duo compete in the Gold Coast Half Marathon alongside thousands of other runners.
Franklin and Thurston also arrived alongside several other IMF members to complete a 30km selection trial in Alice Springs last September.
They also completed the Sunshine Coast Half Marathon, with Franklin improving on his time.
‘I’m reasonably happy with that,’ Buddy said after the Sunshine Coast event.
‘Obviously to do a marathon or half-marathon at any stage of your life is pretty difficult.
‘I’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into it, spending a lot of time running now that I’ve finished football.’
Franklin’s greatest test came at last year’s New York Marathon, where he finished in three hours, 49 minutes and two seconds, just under six minutes behind Thurston’s effort.
As part of their running efforts, the pair are hoping to raise $1million for the IMF, a charity which uses running to help drive and empower people from First Nations communities to strive for greatness.
