Cathy Freeman (Palm Island)

Biography

An Australian household name, Cathy Freeman can be heralded as one of Australia’s greatest ever sportspeople. Cathy was the leader for athletics in Australia during the 1990s and at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, inspiring thousands of Australians to pursue the sport.

Bursting onto the scene at 16 years of age, Cathy ran in the Commonwealth Games Selection Trial in Sydney in December 1989 and surprised everyone by tying Kath Sambell for third in the 100 metres in 11.42 to gain selection to the Australian team heading to Auckland, in which she won gold as part of the 4x100m relay team.

As Cathy transitioned from junior to senior athletics, she made the move to longer distances, including the 200m and 400m in which she regularly went toe-to-toe with Melinda Gainsford Taylor.

One of Australia’s great hopes for the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, Cathy came through with flying colours winning both 200 metres in 22.25 and the 400 metres in 50.38. Her lap of honour carrying both the Australian and Aboriginal flags brought censure from the ACGA but great support from the Australian public.

Cathy went on to win the silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in an Australian record time of 48.63 seconds, before going onto win two world championship gold medals in 1997 and 1999. A two-time Commonwealth champion, Cathy also won 14 national titles across the 100m, 200m and 400m.

In 2000, Carrying the weight of the nation on her shoulders, Cathy was awarded the honour of lighting flame at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. Ten days later, in a packed stadium of over 112,000 people and wearing a now-legendary full-body suit she collected the ultimate prize. Taking the lead 75 metres from home Cathy Freeman held off her challengers to win Olympic gold by four metres in 49.11 seconds, forever cementing her place in Australian sporting folklore.