If you could go back in time and change one thing from your past, what would it be? 

For Adam Goodes, it's a question that's been put to him more than once.

But, as he told ABC iview's The Assembly, the answer that remains is always the same; he wouldn't change a thing, not even his most challenging moments. 

"Some people go, 'Would you go back and stop that moment where you pointed out to the [13] year-old-girl who racially vilified you?'" the former Sydney Swans great said.

"If I did that, and that didn't happen, then where I am today is completely different."

As Goodes shared, little did he know at the time but that moment would ultimately lead him to the love of his life.

In 2013, Goodes was racially vilified by the teenager during a Sydney match against Collingwood. 

He notified security about the racist abuse and the 13-year-old was escorted out of the stadium.

Goodes' stand reignited a conversation about racism in sport in Australia. The fierce backlash he received for calling out the girls' behaviour showed the lengths still needed to eradicate similar abuse.

"What I did that night was I stood up against racism in that moment," he said.

"Then a year later I was announced Australian of the Year … and what happened during that process was the producer … who was filming me for the three months for the profile piece, we became quite [close] friends.

"To the point where she's birthed three of my children and she's my wife. 

Goodes added that while he wouldn't change his past, he would give his former self some words of wisdom from the future.

"I'd put my hand on my shoulder and say, 'Everything will turn out alright.'" he said.

"I'm very grateful for the decisions I've made, good and bad, because they've made me who I am."

Andrew, who asked Goodes the question, said his answer made him think differently about things that'd happened in his own life.

"It has made me feel better about some bad things that has happened in my life and [that] everything is going to be OK," he said.

"I am so glad I got to interview Adam … he is a very happy positive person and he made me feel very happy afterwards as well."

Adam's favourite thing about himself

Like other guests on The Assembly, the questions put to Goodes varied from what sport he would've gone professional in, other than AFL (spoiler alert, his answer was mixed netball — bet you didn't guess that), does he like swans and what's on his bucket list.

Another student, Abbey, asked Goodes' what his favourite thing about himself is.

"What I really love about myself Abbey, is the colour of my skin," he shared.

"Because it is different to a lot of people, but also [because] there was times in my life where I wasn't happy with the colour of my skin.

Reflecting on the racism he was subjected to on and off the football field, Goodes described how his pride in his skin colour was a triumph over time where it was used to "single me out for being different".

"[I'm] proud of something that was, at a certain point in my life, negative … and really excited to keep wearing it as a badge of honour."

Similarly, Goodes said after initially not wanting a bronze statue to be made of himself, he ultimately agreed to the project on the condition that he could do a pose that was special to him.

"I wanted to do something that symbolised what I did in my career, which was standing up and being really clear about who I am as an Aboriginal person," he said.

"And using every opportunity I could to celebrate that.

"I think that war cry, that dance, really celebrates who I am as a person."

'Really weird' autograph request

Goodes also revealed the weirdest thing he's ever been asked to autograph.

"One person asked me to sign a mouthguard," he said.

"And I was like 'What! Where did you get that from?'

"I was signing it and was like, 'This is really weird.'"

Stream Adam Goodes' interview and all episodes of The Assembly on ABC iview or watch tonight on ABC TV at 8:30pm.