MICHAEL CLARKE, Benji Marshall, Cadel Evans - these are the names that fire the ambitions of Australian children. However, children from developing countries just want a career in medicine, a global study has found.

The dominance of sport in the Australian psyche shows no signs of abating with the upcoming generation.

Illustration: Cathy Wilcox

And, if they cannot star on the sporting stage, it seems any stage will do, as long as they can dance, sing or act.

A survey of 6200 children aged 10 to 12 by the charity group ChildFund Alliance found that 20 per cent in Australia nominated becoming a professional athlete as a top career goal. This compared with just 4 per cent in developing countries.