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| Birth Name(s) : Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman |
Date of Birth: February 16, 1973 |
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Full Cathy Freeman Biography
Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman, OAM (known as Cathy Freeman) (born 16 February 1973) is an Australian sprinter who is particularly associated with the 400 metres race. She became the Olympic champion for 400m in the 2000 Sydney games, at which she lit the Olympic Flame. Freeman was born in Slade Point, Mackay, Queensland, where the local athletics track is named after her.
Freeman began athletics at a young age, competing along with her brothers Garth and Norman. Their first coach was their stepfather, Bruce. By their early teens, both had a collection of regional and titles, with Cathy competing in the 100 metres, 200 metres and high jump. In 1990, Freeman was chosen as a member of Australia's 4x100m relay team for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. The team won the gold medal, making Freeman the first ever Aboriginal Commonwealth Games gold medallist, as well as one of the youngest, at 16 years old. She was then selected to represent Australia at the 1990 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. There, she reached the semi-finals of the 100m and placed fifth in the final of the 200m.
Freeman competed in her second World Junior Championships in Seoul, South Korea. She competed only in the 200m, winning the silver medal behind China's Hu Ling. Also in 1992, she travelled to her first Olympic Games, reaching the second round of her new speciality event; the 400 metres. For the 1993 World Championships in Athletics, Freeman returned to the 200m, reaching the semi-finals.
1994 was Freeman's breakthrough season, when she entered into the world's elite for the first time. Competing at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada, Freeman won gold in both the 200m and 400m. She also competed as a member of Australia's 4x100m squad, winning the silver medal and as a member of the 4x400m team, who finished first but were later disqualified. During the 1994 season, Freeman took 1.3 seconds from her 400m personal best, achieving 50.04 seconds. She also set all-time personal bests in the 100m (11.24) and 200m (22.25).
As one of the favourites for a medal at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics in Sweden, Freeman was disappointed to finish fourth. She also reached the semi-finals of the 200m.
Freeman made more progress during the 1996 season, setting many personal bests and Australian records. This meant that she had emerged as the biggest challenger to France's Marie-José Pérec at the 1996 Olympics. She eventually took the silver medal behind Pérec, in an Australian record of 48.63 seconds. This is still the sixth fastest time ever and the second fastest since 1985. Pérec's winning time of 48.25 was an Olympic record and the third fastest ever.
Pérec chose to spend the 1997 season concentrating on 200m, so Freeman became the favourite for that year's World Championships in Athens. Freeman lived up to this, winning the World title in 49.77 seconds. In fact, Freeman's only loss at 400 m, this season came in Oslo when injuring her foot.
Freeman took a break for the 1998 season, due to injury. Upon her return to the track in 1999, Freeman did not lose a single 400m race, including at the World Championships, where she defended her World title.
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Cathy Freeman Quote(s)
| For athletes traditionally it's such a fantastic stepping stone to greater things down the track and in the future. Don't undermine the Commonwealth Games. |
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