Sprinting great Raelene Boyle has been honoured for a stellar career including seven Commonwealth titles and three Olympic silver medals by being named the 39th legend in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Boyle, 66, is the eighth track and field athlete to achieve legend status, joining the likes of Marjorie Jackson, Betty Cuthbert, Cathy Freeman and Herb Elliott.
Unlike them, Boyle never stood atop the Olympic dais, although she was just pipped by East German Renate Stecher in the 100m and 200m at the 1972 Munich Games in an era of widespread doping in the eastern bloc.
"At this stage of my life, to be truthful, I'd love a gold medal, yes," said Boyle.
"But at this stage in my life, I also feel more sorry for Renate Stecher, and the East German athletes, than I do think about receiving a gold medal.
"It's just one of those things that, given a choice, win a silver medal and be Australian or win a gold medal and be an East German - I pick Australia every time."
Boyle told Thursday night's annual Hall of Fame function that she was honoured to be elevated to legend status.
"I'm very proud of being called a legend with this particular club because of the fact that it's all sport in Australia," Boyle said.
"We're not talking about football or cricket or golf - we're talking about all sports."
At the 1976 Montreal Games, Boyle became the first Australian woman to carry the flag at an Olympics opening ceremony, before twice being called for a false-start in her favoured 200m later in the Games.
Boyle ended her illustrious career in grand style on home soil by stepping up in distance to win the 400m at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane at the age of 31.
"I really felt that I owed my talent and I owed the public of Australia some sort of performance that would put a dot on all the I's and cross the T's and put a full stop at the end of my career and Brisbane served that perfectly," Boyle said.
"All I had to do was get my old legs and body in the condition to win a race."
Boyle stepped back into the spotlight at the opening ceremony at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she pushed the late Betty Cuthbert into the main stadium in a wheelchair, with Cuthbert carrying the torch.
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