Tracey Freeman facts for kids
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| Nationality |  Australia |
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| Born | 1948 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | October 2023 (aged c. 75) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Tracey Freeman (born in 1948 – died in October 2023) was an amazing Australian athlete. She competed in the Paralympic Games and won a total of ten medals! She was a true champion who showed incredible strength and skill.
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Tracey's Early Life and Journey
Tracey Freeman was born in 1948. When she was just two years old, in 1951, she got a sickness called polio. This made her a quadriplegic, meaning she couldn't move her arms and legs easily. At the time, she was living in Mount Isa, Queensland.
Tracey went to a special school called the Crippled Children's Centre in Redfern, Sydney. She stayed there until she was 15. After that, she moved to the Mt Wilga Rehabilitation Centre. This is where she found her love for sports! She tried archery, field events (like throwing), and swimming. These activities helped her get stronger and discover her talents.
Later, Tracey moved back to Queensland with her family. She spent some time at the Kingsholm Rehabilitation Centre in Brisbane. Just before the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics, she got married. Tracey passed away in October 2023, when she was about 75 years old.
A Champion's Career in Sports
Tracey's first big competition was the National Wheelchair Games in Sydney. She was incredibly good, winning every event she entered! She even broke Australian records in discus, javelin, shot put, and the 60-meter sprint. She also won a gold medal in table tennis.
Her amazing performance earned her a spot on the Australian team for the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics. At these games, Tracey was a superstar!
- She won three gold medals and set new world records in:
- Women's Discus 1B
- Women's Javelin 1B
- Women's Shot Put 1B
- She also won two silver medals in:
- Women's 60-meter Wheelchair 1B
- Women's Slalom 1B
Tracey was the most successful athlete at the 1972 games. She was also the first Australian woman to win a gold medal in Paralympic athletics. She became one of Australia's first well-known Paralympic athletes, inspiring many others.
More Wins and Records
Tracey kept winning after the 1972 Paralympics. In 1973, she defended her national titles at the National Wheelchair Games in Adelaide. She also won another gold medal in the wheelchair slalom.
In 1974, she broke more records at the 1974 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Dunedin. The next year, at the first FESPIC Games in Japan, she won gold medals in discus and shot put. She also earned silver medals in the 60-meter race and slalom.
At the 1976 Toronto Games, Tracey continued her winning streak:
- She won three more gold medals and set three new world records in:
- Women's 60-meter 1C
- Women's Javelin 1C
- Women's Shot Put 1C
- She also won two silver medals in:
- Women's Discus 1C
- Women's Slalom 1C
Tracey hoped to compete in the 1980 Arnhem Paralympics. However, a car accident right before the games stopped her from participating. She made a comeback in the early 1990s, winning more medals and setting Australian records. She finally retired from sports in early 1996.
Awards and Recognition
Tracey Freeman's incredible achievements did not go unnoticed.
- In 1976, she made history by becoming the first athlete with a disability to win The Courier-Mail Sportswoman of the Year award.
- In 2000, she received an Australian Sports Medal for her contributions to sports.
- In December 2016, Tracey was honored by being inducted into the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame. This is a very special award that recognizes the greatest Paralympic athletes.
See also
In Spanish: Tracey Freeman para niños
