friendly world: Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman was born in Mackay in Queensland in 1973. She was a very good runner and received a scholarship to boarding school where she got professional coaching. Her family worked hard to support her and pay for her to travel to competitions.

She moved to Melbourne for better training facilities in 1990. In 1990 she won a gold medal in the 4x100 metres relay at the Commonwealth Games becoming the first Australian Aboriginal to win a gold medal at an international athletics championship.
Cathy Freeman won the 200 and 400 metres at the Commonwealth Games in 1994. She also won a silver medal in the 1996 Olympic Games. In 1997 and 1999 Cathy became 400 metres world champion.

At the 2000 0lympics Games Cathy had the honour of lighting the Olympic flame and won the 400 metres gold medal. She is very proud of her Aboriginal background and has carried the Australian and the Aboriginal flags around the track after winning a race. She was made Young Australian of the Year in 1990 and Australian of the Year in 1998. She is the first person to receive both awards. She has become a role model for both Aboriginal and non -Aboriginal Australians.

Cathy retired from athletics on July 15, 2003. There is no doubt that Cathy Freeman should leave athletics with absolutely no regrets. What Cathy has been able to achieve in her career is quite remarkable given her humble beginnings. She will ever be remembered as a charming, humble, engaging, infectious, determined, courageous, free-spirited and funny person and a very talented athlete who battled the odds and reached the highest pinnacle in her chosen sport.

Women’s Athletics

Competitor for Australia

Olympic Games

Gold 2000 Sydney 400 m

Silver 1996 Atlanta 400 m

World Championships

Gold 1997 Athens 400 m

Gold 1999 Seville 400 m

Bronze 1995 Gothenburg 4 × 400 m relay

Commonwealth Games

Gold 1990 Auckland 4 × 100 m

Gold 1994 Victoria 200 m

Gold 1994 Victoria 400 m

Gold 2002 Manchester 4 × 400 m

Silver 1994 Victoria 4 × 100 m