By Murray Wenzel

Australian sporting legend status will be bestowed on Canberra’s Paralympic action man Michael Milton and former squash world No.1 Geoff Hunt who have more in common than they might realise.

The pair were confirmed on Friday as the 50th and 51st stars to be elevated by the Sports Australia Hall of Fame and will be celebrated at a dinner in Melbourne on November 18.

They’ll join inaugural trio Sir Donald Bradman, Dawn Fraser, Sir Hubert Opperman and more recent recipients Cathy Freeman, Shane Warne and Ian Thorpe.

Hunt, now 77, was ranked either No.1 or 2 in the world every year between 1967-81 and won a staggering 82 per cent of the 215 tournaments he played.

Milton, who at 51 is barely a year on from his third primary cancer diagnosis – the first cost him his leg when he was nine – boasts six Paralympic gold medals and the fastest speed of any Australian, on one or two skis.

He also cycled at a summer Paralympic Games, less than 12 months after his second cancer battle, and set the fastest 5km and marathon times on crutches.

Hunt joins fellow squash great and 2000 inductee Heather McKay while Milton is the first winter sports personality to be elevated and only the second Paralympian after wheelchair athlete Louise Sauvage.

Both were surprised by calls from fellow Legend and Hall of Fame chair John Bertrand, of America’s Cup sailing fame, informing them of the honour.

“I love it, but it’s hard to reconcile,” Milton, now better known as “Nearly Legless Mick” at his Harry Potter merchandise store in Canberra, told AAP.

“Some of the bad stuff you naturally delete to protect yourself, but when the doctor said, ‘Okay, you’ve got cancer, we’re going to have to amputate your leg’… one of the first things I asked was, ‘Will I still be able to go skiing?’.

“In 1982… the response came two weeks later in the form of a VHS video tape with a guy on one leg skiing.

“All through the bad times it was all about, ‘When it’s over, I’m going to be skiing again’.”

Milton is in remission but says he “believes there’s a fourth one on the way and if I survive that, then maybe a fifth”.

“It’s the lot I’ve been given and… it’s tough but life goes on and for me life is about doing things that are fun and challenge me,” he said.

“I don’t put any message out there, just try and live my life the way I want to live it.

“And the most rewarding thing for me, the special days are going skiing with my kids, ripping around Thredbo.”

Hunt dominated his sport before becoming a coach and high-performance manager and continues to act in ambassadorial roles for the now-global sport.

The fruits of his labour as a member of the player council that established the first professional squash tour are now being reaped by those preparing for squash’s long-awaited Olympic debut in 2028.

“Surreal and fabulous but it’s a bit daunting; you think there must be so many others and how come I get the nod,” he said of his honour.

Fitness fanatic Hunt’s mentality was to “gun it and see what you can do” and reckons he never felt the weight of his status.

“Keeping at the top, that was never an issue for me; each year was a new year and it’s surprising how many you win after a period… honestly, it creeps up on you,” he said.

“It’s always in the back of your mind, what you’ve achieved, but you live in the present.

“Make hay while the sun’s shining, but you’re only in a sport like squash because you love the game.

“I’ve never been one to jump into the limelight, or use my position. I just wanted to be involved.”

Like Milton, Hunt’s modesty and passion for the sport is probably only matched by the love for his family.

“I have sons living in South Africa and Zimbabwe and another son in Sydney who are all coming to the Hall of Fame dinner,” he said.

“That’s really special for me and I feel proud about that, for them to want to come.”

Hall of Fame members must be retired for 15 years before they’re considered for legend status.

“(They) left a profound legacy in the history of sport,” selection committee chair Bruce McAvaney said.

“Michael knocked down so many barriers. His is an extraordinary story… breathtaking. His courage and audacity have resulted in achievements that are hard to comprehend.

“Geoff was the best male squash player in the world for a decade. His victory over Jahangir Khan in the 1981 British Open is one of the most famous games in the history of squash.”

SPORT AUSTRALIA HALL OF FAME’S NEWEST LEGENDS

GEOFF HUNT

• Eight British Open titles, four World Opens, three World Amateur titles.

– First player to win the World Amateur and British Open in same year.

– Ranked either number one or two in the world every year from 1967 to 1981.

– Won 178 of his 215 tournaments, a strike rate of better than 80 per cent.

– Helped establish the professional world tour while still playing.

MICHAEL MILTON

– Lost left leg to bone cancer when he was nine.

– Paralympics debut at 14, first Australian winter gold medallist at second Games when 19, finished with 11 medals – six gold – in five appearances.

– Historic four-Gold sweep of the Alpine skiing events in 2002, earning him Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.

– Became world’s fastest skier with a disability (193.16kmh) in 2003 and Australia’s fastest skier (213.65kmh) in 2006.

• Survived oesophageal cancer shortly after taking up cycling, competing at the Beijing Paralympic Games less than 12 months after chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

• Fourth in World Paratriathlon Championships, climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, walked Kokoda twice, completed ultramarathon and boasts world’s fastest marathon and 5km on crutches.