Cathy Freeman facts for kids
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Freeman in 2008
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| Full name | Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 February 1973 Mackay, Queensland, Australia |
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| Education | Kooralbyn International school Fairholme College |
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| Alma mater | University of Melbourne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Australian sprinter/runner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 164 cm (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 56 kg (8 st 11 lb; 123 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) |
Sandy Bodecker
(m. 1999; div. 2003)James Murch
(m. 2009; sep 2024) |
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| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Sprint | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University team | University of Melbourne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Step-father Bruce Barber, Mike Danila, Peter Fortune | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1 July 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman (born 16 February 1973), known as Cathy Freeman, is a famous Aboriginal Australian former sprinter. She was best known for her amazing speed in the 400 metres race. Her fastest time of 48.63 seconds makes her one of the quickest women ever in this event. She achieved this at the 1996 Summer Olympics where she won a silver medal.
Cathy Freeman became an Olympic champion in the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. This was a very special moment because she also had the honor of lighting the Olympic Flame at the opening ceremony.
She was the first Indigenous Australian to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. This happened when she was only 16 years old in 1990. In 1994, she had a fantastic year, winning gold medals in both the 200 metres and 400 metres at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada. She also won gold at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics and the 1999 World Championships in Athletics in the 400 metres. Cathy retired from running in 2003.
After her running career, she started the Cathy Freeman Foundation in 2007. This foundation helps Indigenous children with their education. Cathy is from the Kuku-yalanji and Birri-gubba peoples.
Contents
Cathy Freeman's Amazing Career
Early Life and Talent
Cathy Freeman was very good at school sports. Her stepfather, Bruce Barber, coached her. She won many local and national titles.
Getting Serious About Running
In 1987, Cathy moved to Kooralbyn International School. There, she was coached by Mike Danila. He was a big influence on her career and gave her a strict training plan.
In 1988, she received a scholarship to Fairholme College. This was an exclusive girls' school in Toowoomba. In 1989, Cathy ran the 100 metres in 11.67 seconds. Her coach started thinking about her joining the Commonwealth Games Trials.
Becoming a Star
In 1990, Cathy was chosen for Australia's 4 × 100 metres relay team. They competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. The team won the gold medal. This made Cathy the first Aboriginal person to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. She was also one of the youngest at 16 years old.
After the Auckland games, she moved to Melbourne. There, she met Peter Fortune, who became her coach for the rest of her career. She also competed in the 1990 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Bulgaria.
In 1992, Cathy won a silver medal in the 200 metres at the World Junior Championships in South Korea. She also went to her first 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. She competed in the 400 metres and the 4 × 400 metres relay.
The year 1994 was a breakthrough for Cathy. She became one of the world's top athletes. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada, she won gold in both the 200 metres and 400 metres. She also won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay. During 1994, she greatly improved her personal best times.
At the 1995 World Championships in Athletics in Sweden, Cathy was expected to win a medal. She finished fourth in the 400 metres.
Olympic Glory and Retirement
Cathy continued to improve in 1996. She set many personal bests and Australian records. She was a strong competitor against Marie-José Pérec from France. At the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Cathy won the silver medal. She set an Australian record of 48.63 seconds.
In 1997, Cathy won the 400 metres at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics in Athens. Her time was 49.77 seconds. She took a break from running in 1998 due to an injury.
When she returned in 1999, Cathy was unbeatable in the 400 metres. She won every race, including the 1999 World Championships in Athletics.
Cathy had a fantastic year in 2000. She was the favorite to win the 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She won the Olympic title with a time of 49.11 seconds. This made her only the second Australian Aboriginal Olympic champion. After her victory, Cathy took a lap of honor. She carried both the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Australian flags. This was a very powerful moment. She also reached the final of the 200 metres, finishing sixth.
In 2002, she returned to compete in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. She was part of Australia's winning 4 × 400 metres relay team. Cathy Freeman announced her retirement from athletics in 2003.
Life After Running
After retiring, Cathy became involved in many community and charity activities. She was an Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. She also supported Cottage by the Sea, a children's holiday camp.
Helping Others: The Cathy Freeman Foundation
In 2007, Cathy founded the Cathy Freeman Foundation. This foundation works with remote Indigenous communities. Its goal is to improve education for Indigenous children. It helps by encouraging children to attend school. The foundation works with other groups like the AIEF.
About Cathy's Life
Cathy Freeman was born in 1973 in Mackay, Queensland. Her parents were Norman Freeman and Cecelia Barber. Her father was from the Birri Gubba people. Her mother was from the Kuku Yalanji people. Cathy also has some Syrian and English heritage.
She grew up in Mackay and other parts of Queensland with her brothers. She had an older sister, Anne-Marie, who passed away in 1990. Cathy went to several schools, including Fairholme College.
Cathy has spoken about how experiences with unfair treatment influenced her. She was raised in the Baháʼí Faith. She says she likes the prayers and believes in the equality of all people.
Cathy married Alexander "Sandy" Bodecker in 1999. They separated in 2003. Later, she married James Murch in 2009. They welcomed their first child in 2011. In August 2024, Cathy and James announced their separation.
Cathy supports the National Rugby League team the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. She also supports the Australian Football League team the Carlton Blues.
In 2023, Cathy was one of many famous Australians to sign a letter. This letter supported a "Yes" vote in the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. This referendum was about giving Indigenous Australians a voice in parliament.
Cathy in the Media
In 2006, Cathy went on a road trip with actress Deborah Mailman. They filmed a TV show called Going Bush. They traveled from Broome to Arnhem Land. On their journey, they spent time with different Indigenous communities.
In 2008, Cathy appeared on the TV show Who Do You Think You Are?. She learned more about her family history. She found out her mother had Chinese and English heritage. She also discovered her great-grandfather served in World War I.
Cathy has a tattoo on her right arm that says "Cos I'm free".
Awards and Recognition
Cathy Freeman has received many important awards for her achievements:
- Young Australian of the Year 1990
- Australian of the Year 1998
- Australian Sports Medal 2000
- Centenary Medal 2001
- Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 2001
- In 2001, she received the Olympic Order from Juan Antonio Samaranch.
- Laureus named her Sportswoman of the Year in 2001.
- Arthur Ashe Courage Award 2001
- Deadly Awards 2003 – Female Sportsperson of the Year
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame induction in 2005
- Queensland Sport Hall of Fame induction in 2009
- In 2009, she was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland.
Images for kids
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Freeman preparing to race in the Olympic 400 m final, Sydney 2000.
