Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman’s role in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games embedded her name forever in Olympic and Australian history. She lit the cauldron in the Olympic Stadium - after the torch had been handled by six Australian women, who had between them won 15 gold medals - in an Opening Ceremony that celebrated both a century of women’s participation and the heritage of indigenous Australians.

Eleven nights later, she fulfilled a mission that had absorbed her life: she won the 400m final, becoming the athlete of the Games. The weight of expectations she carried into that race was enormous. Apart from the hopes of a nation, there was an extra load - over 200 years of history.

From lane 6, and with over 100,000 fans screaming for her in Stadium Australia, she was back in third at halfway. She produced her trademark kick with 150 metres to go and at the top of the straight was challenging for the lead. Over the final 50 metres she pulled away to win comfortably in 49.11 seconds. She sat on the track in what looked like disbelief and shock, as the roar in the stadium was deafening. Years later she revealed she was disappointed to not break 49 seconds.

Later she danced through a victory lap, carrying Australian and Aboriginal flags. Not since 1964, when Betty Cuthbert was successful over the same distance in Tokyo, had an Australian woman won a flat race on the track at the Games. Freeman also made the final of the 200m (seventh) and ran the anchor leg for the Australian 4x400m relay in the final (fifth).

Freeman grew up in Mackay, Queensland, and was a natural athlete from early childhood. Asked at 14 by a vocational officer what she wanted to do after school days, she said: “I want to win gold medals at the Olympic Games.” And after that? “I don’t care.” At 16 she won the 4 x 100m relay gold at the Auckland Commonwealth Games. At the Atlanta 1996 Games she became the first Aboriginal medallist, by finishing second to Marie-Jose Perec in the 400m. The Atlanta final was an epic race. Freeman was level with the French great into the final straight, after a decisive bend, and it took an Olympic record from Perec to win gold. Freeman’s silver medal time of 48.63 seconds would also have broken the previous Olympic best. Freeman then went on to win the 1997 and 1999 World Championships to give herself the pressure of being favourite for her home Games. By Sydney, at 27, she was stronger, tougher mentally, and ready. By Sydney, at 27, she was stronger, tougher mentally, and ready.

In April 2018, Freeman was awarded an Order of Merit by the Australian Olympic Committee. An Order of Merit is awarded to a person who in the opinion of the Executive has achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world, either through personal achievement or contribution to the development of sport.

On Australia Day in 2026, Freeman was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), Australia’s highest honour. Freeman’s extraordinary contributions to sport, her leadership in Indigenous communities and her ongoing commitment to

national service epitomise the values we celebrate in Australian sport: excellence, integrity, and service.

Since retiring from elite competition, Freeman has been using her platform to invest in the future of Indigenous children, through her charity Cathy Freeman Foundation (CFF).

Freeman’s vision for CFF, is to see an Australia where Indigenous and non-Indigenous children have equal access to education and the same opportunities for success in life.

Harry Gordon, AOC historian