:Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman was successful in school athletics events. After 1987, she was coached by her stepfather, Bruce Barber, to various regional and national titles.{{cite web

|url=http://www.holidayhunter.com.au/indigenous/page50.html

|title=Cathy Freeman, Athlete}}

In 1987, Freeman moved to Kooralbyn International School to be coached professionally by Romanian Mike Danila, who later became a key influence throughout her career; he provided a strict training regime for the young athlete.[http://living.oneindia.in/celebrity/sports/kathy-freeman-profile-olympic-games.html Cathy Freeman: The athletic proud of Australia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227084428/http://living.oneindia.in/celebrity/sports/kathy-freeman-profile-olympic-games.html |date=27 February 2009 }}{{cite news |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/2996526/Athletics-Making-of-a-legend.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/2996526/Athletics-Making-of-a-legend.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live

|title=Athletics: Making of a legend |author=Sebastian Coe |author-link=Sebastian Coe |date=14 January 2001 |access-date=21 April 2008| location=London}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |author=Eamonn Condon |url=http://www.mail-archive.com/t-and-f@lists.uoregon.edu/msg10373.html

|title=Freeman, still on the top of the world |work=The Electronic Telegraph |date=27 May 2001 |access-date=10 March 2008}}

In 1988, she was awarded a scholarship to an exclusive girls' school, Fairholme College{{cite web|url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/cathy-freeman |title=Cathy Freeman

|date=3 June 2015 |website=aiatsis.gov.au |access-date=27 March 2018}} in Toowoomba. In a competition in 1989, Freeman ran 11.67 s in the 100 metres and Danila began to think about entering her in the Commonwealth Games Trials in Sydney.

In 1990, Freeman was chosen as a member of Australia's 4 × 100 m 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 moved to Melbourne in 1990 after the Auckland Commonwealth Games. Shortly after moving to Melbourne, her manager Nic Bideau introduced Freeman to athletics coach Peter Fortune, who would become Freeman's coach for the rest of her career. 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 100 m and placed fifth in the final of the 200 m.

Freeman competed in her second World Junior Championships in Seoul, South Korea. She competed only in the 200 m, winning the silver medal behind China's Hu Ling. Also in 1992, she travelled to her first Olympic Games in Barcelona, reaching the second round of her new specialty event, the 400 metres, and finishing 7th as part of the Australian team in the women's 4 × 400 metres relay finals. At the 1993 World Championships in Athletics Freeman competed in the 200 m, 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 200 m and 400 m. She also competed as a member of Australia's 4 × 100 m squad, winning the silver medal and as a member of the 4 × 400 m team, who finished first but were later disqualified after Freeman obstructed the Nigerian runner. During the 1994 season, Freeman took 1.3 seconds from her 400 m personal best, achieving 50.04 seconds. She also set all-time personal bests in the 100 m (11.24) and 200 m (22.25).

Although a medal favourite at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics in Sweden, Freeman finished fourth. She also reached the semi-finals of the 200 m.

Freeman made more progress during the 1996 season, setting many personal bests and Australian records. By this stage, she was the biggest challenger to France's Marie-José Pérec at the 1996 Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportbible.com/australia/news-the-top-10-greatest-olympic-moments-of-all-time-20210721|title = The Top 10 Greatest Olympic Moments of All-Time| date=21 July 2021 }} She eventually took the silver medal behind Pérec, in an Australian record of 48.63 seconds. This was the fourth-fastest since the world record was set in Canberra, Australia, in 1985. Pérec's winning time of 48.25 was an Olympic record.

In 1997, Freeman won the 400 m at the World Championships in Athens, with a time of 49.77 seconds. Her only loss in the 400 m that season was in Oslo where she injured her foot.{{cite web|last1=Barber|first1=Step-father Bruce|last2=Danila|first2=Mike|last3=Auckl|first3=Peter Fortune Retired 1 July 2003 Medal record Women's athletics Representing Australia Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney 400 m Silver 1996 Atlanta 400 m World Championships Gold 1997 Athens 400 m Gold 1999 Seville 400 m Bronze 1995 Gothenburg 4 × 400 m relay Commonwealth Games Gold 1990|last4=m|first4=4 × 100 m Gold 1994 Victoria 200 m Gold 1994 Victoria 400 m Gold 2002 Manchester 4 × 400 m Silver 1994 Victoria 4 × 100|title=Cathy Freeman Facts for Kids|url=https://facts.kiddle.co/Cathy_Freeman|access-date=2020-10-14|website=facts.kiddle.co|language=en-us}}{{better source needed|date=June 2024}}^{This is a mirror site. Please replace with better source.}

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 400 m race, including at the World Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics/australia/cathy-freeman-274/defends-world-championship-400m-crown-in-seville_a08106/|title=Cathy FREEMAN – Australia – Defends World Championship 400m crown in Seville|website=sporting-heroes.net|access-date=1 August 2021}}

Freeman also lit the torch in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/freeman_cathy,15499.html|title=Cathy Freeman|date=14 June 2005|access-date=20 July 2020|archive-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219090123/https://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/freeman_cathy,15499.html|url-status=dead}}

File:Cathy Freeman 2000 olympics.jpg

She continued to win into the 2000 season, despite Pérec's return to the track. Freeman was the home favourite for the 400 m title at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where she was expected to face-off with rival Pérec. This showdown never happened, as Pérec left the Games after what she described as harassment from strangers.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/athletics-track/934839.stm|title=Perec out of Olympics|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 September 2000}}{{cite news|title=SYDNEY 2000; Perec Says Fear Overwhelmed Her|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/29/sports/sydney-2000-perec-says-fear-overwhelmed-her.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=29 September 2000|url-access=registration}} Freeman won the Olympic title in a time of 49.11 seconds, becoming only the second Australian Aboriginal Olympic champion (the first was Freeman's {{Nowrap|4 × 400}} teammate Nova Peris-Kneebone who won for field hockey four years earlier in Atlanta).{{cite web|url=http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE2289b.htm|title=Peris, Nova Maree – Woman – The Australian Women's Register|first=National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of|last=Melbourne|website=womenaustralia.info|access-date=27 March 2018}} After the race, Freeman took a victory lap, carrying both the Aboriginal and Australian flags. This was despite unofficial flags being banned at the Olympic Games, and the Aboriginal flag, while recognised as official in Australia, not being a national flag or recognised by the International Olympic Committee.{{cite news|title=Indigenous leaders want officials to drop ban on flags|url=http://www.theage.com.au/olympics/off-the-field/indigenous-leaders-want-officials-to-drop-ban-on-flags-20120731-23d74.html|access-date=2 May 2013|newspaper=The Age|date=1 August 2012}}{{cite news|title=Olympic flags rule sparks anger|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7542761.stm|access-date=2 May 2013|publisher=BBC News |date=5 August 2008}} Freeman also reached the final of the 200 m, coming sixth.Wallechinsky, David; Loucky, Jaime. The Complete Book of the Olympics. Aurum Press, 2008, p. 300. In honour of her gold medal win in Sydney, she represented Oceania in carrying the Olympic flag at the opening ceremonies of the next Olympics, in Salt Lake City, joining Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Africa), John Glenn (The Americas), Kazuyoshi Funaki (Asia), Lech Wałęsa (Europe), Jean-Michel Cousteau (Environment), Jean-Claude Killy (Sport), and Steven Spielberg (Culture).{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

Throughout her career, Freeman regularly competed in the Victorian Athletic League where she won two 400 m races at the Stawell Gift Carnival.{{cite web|url=http://www.stawellgift.com/hall-of-fame/did-you-know/|title=Top Ten Trivia – Stawell Gift|website=stawellgift.com|access-date=27 March 2018}}

Freeman did not compete during the 2001 season. In 2002 she returned to the track to compete as a member of Australia's victorious {{Nowrap|4 × 400 m}} relay team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Freeman announced her retirement in 2003.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/16/1058035019872.html|title=Cathy Freeman retires|last=Johnson|first=Len|date=16 July 2003|work=The Age|access-date=4 January 2010 | location=Melbourne}}

Since retiring from athletics Freeman has become involved in a range of community and charitable activities. She was an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) until 2012.[http://www.aief.com.au Australian Indigenous Education Foundation]. Retrieved 16 July 2011.

Freeman was appointed as an Ambassador for Cottage by the Sea (a children's holiday camp in Queenscliffe, Victoria), alongside celebrity chef Curtis Stone and big-wave surfer Jeff Rowley. Freeman retired from her position as Patron after 10 years in 2014.{{cite web |url=http://cottagebythesea.com.au/patron/ |title=Patron - |access-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920022758/http://www.cottagebythesea.com.au/patron/ |archive-date=20 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}

In 2007 Freeman founded the Cathy Freeman Foundation. The Foundation works with four remote Indigenous communities to close the gap in education between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian children,{{cite web|url=http://www.cathyfreemanfoundation.org.au/|title=Cathy Freeman Foundation – home|website=Cathy Freeman Foundation – home|access-date=27 March 2018}} by offering incentives for children to attend school.{{cite news|title=Cathy Freeman on finding meaning and success in life after sport|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-08/cathy-freeman-on-finding-meaning-and-success-in-life-after-sport/8600550|access-date=8 June 2017|work=ABC News|date=8 June 2017|language=en-AU}} It partners with the AIEF and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.{{cite web|url=https://www.bennelongfoundation.com/post/the-cathy-freeman-foundation-closing-the-education-gap|website=Bennelong Foundation|date=1 July 2014|first=Sandra|last=Jacobs|title=The Cathy Freeman Foundation – closing the education gap}}

Freeman was born in 1973 at Slade Point, Mackay, Queensland, to Norman Freeman and Cecelia Barber. Norman was born in Woorabinda of the Birri Gubba people; Cecelia was born on Palm Island in Queensland, and is of Kuku Yalanji heritage. Moreover, Freeman also has Syrian ancestry.{{cite web | title=Cathy Freeman OAM, b. 1973 | website=National Portrait Gallery people | date=18 March 2020 | url=http://www.portrait.gov.au/people/cathy-freeman-1973/ | access-date=17 September 2020}}{{Cite news |last=Aiton |first=Jessie |date=2022 |title=Meandering through the Windsor Hotel when I encountered a memorable culture clash: Doug Aiton reflects on his interview with Cathy Freeman |url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/meandering-through-the-windsor-hotel-when-i-encountered-a-memorable-culture-clash-doug-aiton-reflects-on-his-interview-with-cathy-freeman/}}{{Cite web |date=2000-09-19 |title=Face of the new, multicultural Australia |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/face-of-the-new-multicultural-australia/L6LBLR6XCXQ2PFM6SEBNRA7TL4/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} Freeman and her brothers Gavin, Garth, and Norman were raised in Mackay and in other parts of Queensland. She also had an older sister, Anne-Marie, who was born in 1966 and died in 1990. Anne-Marie had cerebral palsy and spent much of her life in the Birribi care facility in Rockhampton.[http://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s1584631.htm Cos I'm Free (AKA Cathy Freeman)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113205749k/stories/s1584631.htm |date=13 January 2014 }}, Transcript, Message Stick, ABC Television, 11 March 2006.

Freeman attended several schools, including schools in Mackay and Coppabella, but was mostly educated at Fairholme College in Toowoomba where she attended after winning a scholarship to board there.[http://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/freeman-catherine-cathy-15410 Indigenous Australia: Catherine (Cathy) Freeman], National Centre of Biography, Australian National University website. Retrieved 7 August 2017

Freeman's parents divorced in 1978, after which her father returned to Woorabinda.

Freeman has described how she has been influenced by early experiences with racism and also by the Baháʼí Faith. She was raised a Catholic, and says of her faith, "I'm not a devout Catholic but I like the prayers and I appreciate their values about the equality of all human kind."[http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/the-love-and-pain-that-inspire-cathy/2006/03/08/1141701518668.html?page=fullpage The love and pain that inspire Cathy, Top athlete may journey from the winner's podium to the Academy Awards] by Michael Dwyer, The Age, 9 March 2006.[http://www.penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?SBN=9780143302384&page=extract Born to Run (extract)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919011834/http://penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?SBN=9780143302384&page=extract |date=19 September 2007 }} Chapter 1 Running Free, Penguin Group (Australia)

Freeman had a long-term romantic relationship with Nick Bideau, her manager, that ended in acrimony and legal wranglings over Freeman's endorsement earnings.Raelene Boyle (22 March 2006) [http://smh.com.au/news/commentary/mottrams-manipulator/2006/03/21/1142703363720.html " Bideau's methods are make or break"]. The Sydney Morning HeraldBrendan Gallagher (24 June 2004). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/brendangallagher/2381672/Cathy-Freeman-tells-her-story.html Cathy Freeman tells her story]. The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Freeman married Alexander "Sandy" Bodecker, a Nike executive 20 years her senior, in 1999. After her success in Sydney she took an extended break from the track to nurse Bodecker through a bout of throat cancer from May to October 2002.Jacquelin Magnay (8 November 2002) [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/07/1036308423573.html "Sandy beats cancer"], The Sydney Morning Herald. She announced their separation in February 2003. Later that year, Freeman began dating Australian actor Joel Edgerton whom she had initially met at the 2002 TV Week Logies. Their relationship ended in early 2005.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/People/Cathy-and-Joel-split/2005/01/21/1106110917670.html "Cathy and Joel split"], The Age, 21 January 2005.

In October 2006, Freeman announced her engagement to Melbourne stockbroker James Murch.{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20567247-421,00.html |title=Cathy Freeman to wed again |last=Sheahan |first=Kate |author2=Gullan, Scott |date=12 October 2006 |work=news.com.au |access-date=22 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915112736/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C20567247-421%2C00.html |archive-date=15 September 2008 }} They married at Spray Farm on the Bellarine Peninsula on 11 April 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/sprinter-freeman-walks-down-the-aisle-20090412-a3pk.html|title=Sprinter Freeman walks down the aisle|date=12 April 2009|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=12 April 2009}} Freeman gave birth to her first child in 2011.[http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/people/cathy-freeman-gives-birth-20110708-1h6ig.html "Cathy Freeman gives birth"], The Age, 8 July 2011. In August 2024 Freeman and Murch announced their separation.{{cite web |title=Olympic legend Cathy Freeman and husband James Murch announce separation after 15 years of marriage |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/champions/olympic-legend-cathy-freeman-and-husband-james-murch-announce-separation-after-15-years-of-marriage/news-story/8ef37020a3c285c48d30b0dc2a45e93a |website=News.com.au |date=16 August 2024}}

Freeman is a supporter of National Rugby League team the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Australian Football League team the Carlton Blues.{{Cite web |date=2005-03-01 |title=Olympic hero Freeman now a Shark |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/olympic-hero-freeman-now-a-shark-20050302-gdku5p.html |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} Freeman was also a part of the "Group of 14" who backed the return of the South Sydney Rabbitohs to the NRL following their exclusion in 2000 and 2001.{{Cite web |last=Carayannis |first=Michael |date=2014-10-06 |title=Cathy Freeman a secret weapon behind South Sydney Rabbitohs' grand final success |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/cathy-freeman-a-secret-weapon-behind-south-sydney-rabbitohs-grand-final-success-20141006-10qx8r.html |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

On 10 October 2023, Freeman was one of 25 Australians of the Year who signed an open letter supporting the Yes vote in the Indigenous Voice referendum, initiated by psychiatrist Patrick McGorry.{{cite web | last=Butler | first=Josh | title=Australian of the Year winners sign open letter saying no vote in voice referendum would be a 'shameful dead end' | website=The Guardian | date=11 October 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/11/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-australians-of-the-year-open-letter | access-date=11 October 2023}}{{cite web | last=Winter | first=Velvet | title=Voice referendum live updates: Australians of the Year Yes vote letter in full | website=ABC News (Australia) | date=10 October 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-11/live-updates-voice-referendum-latest-news-october-11/102958838 | access-date=11 October 2023}}

She joined with actress Deborah Mailman on a road trip, a four-part television documentary series Going Bush (2006) where the pair set off on a journey from Broome to Arnhem Land spending time with Indigenous communities along the way.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In 2008, Freeman participated in Who Do You Think You Are? and discovered that her mother was of Chinese and English heritage as well as Aboriginal. As a result of a 1917 Queensland policy that Aboriginal people could serve in the military if they had a European parent, her paternal great-grandfather, Frank Fisher served in the 11th Light Horse Regiment during World War I.[http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/whodoyouthinkyouare/episodes/detail/episode/86/season/1 Catherine Freeman] Who Do You Think You Are?. SBS One.[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/news/cathys-family-secrets/story-e6frf00r-1111115304674 Cathy's family secrets] – publisher: The Daily Telegraph (13 January 2008)

On her right arm, the side closest to the spectators on an athletics track, she had the words "Cos I'm free" tattooed midway between her shoulder and elbow.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/sporting-tattoos/2006/11/11/1162661948895.html|title=Sporting tattoos|last=Coulter|first=Michael|date=12 November 2021}}

• Young Australian of the Year 1990{{Cite web |url=https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/cathy-freeman/134/#:~:text=QLDNational%20RecipientYoung%20Australian,School%20Athletics%20Championships%20in%20Brisbane |title=Cathy Freeman OAM - Australian of the Year |access-date=27 August 2021 |archive-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827012015/https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/cathy-freeman/134/#:~:text=QLDNational%20RecipientYoung%20Australian,School%20Athletics%20Championships%20in%20Brisbane |url-status=dead }}
• Australian of the Year 1998{{cite book | author= Lewis, Wendy | title=Australians of the Year | publisher=Pier 9 Press | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-74196-809-5 | author-link=Wendy Lewis }}
• Australian Sports Medal 2000[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/975862 It's an Honour entry – Australian Sports Medal – 26 January 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113223224/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=975862&search_type=simple&showInd=true |date=13 January 2014 }} Citation: World Champion 1997 and 1999, Commonwealth Champion 1994, VIS Award of Excellence 1997
• Centenary Medal 2001[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1114964 It's an Honour entry – Centenary Medal – 1 January 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113223227/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1114964&search_type=simple&showInd=true |date=13 January 2014 }} Citation: For outstanding service through sport
• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 2001[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/887130 It's an Honour entry – Medal of the Order of Australia – 26 January 2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113224313/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=887130&search_type=simple&showInd=true |date=13 January 2014 }} Citation: For service to sport, particularly athletics
• In 2001, Freeman received the Olympic Order from Juan Antonio Samaranch{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/news?articleid=52585|title=Olympic News – Official Source of Olympic News|date=27 March 2018|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=27 March 2018}}
• Laureus named Freeman Sportswoman of the Year in 2001
• Arthur Ashe Courage Award 2001
• Victorian Honour Roll of Women 2001{{Cite web |date= |title=Cathy Freeman OAM |url=https://www.vic.gov.au/cathy-freeman-oam |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=State Government of Victoria |language=en-au}}
• Deadly Awards 2003 – Female Sportsperson of the Year
• Sport Australia Hall of Fame induction in 2005{{cite web|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/cathy-freeman/|title=Cathy Freeman|publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame|access-date=26 September 2020}}
• Queensland Sport Hall of Fame induction in 2009{{cite web|title=Ms Catherine Freeman OAM|url=http://www.qsport.org.au/qshof/biography.asp?ID=6|work=Queensland Sport Hall of Fame|publisher=qsport.org.au|access-date=20 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126085236/http://qsport.org.au/qshof/biography.asp?ID=6|archive-date=26 January 2014|url-status=dead}}
• In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, Freeman was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for her role as a "sports legend".{{cite web|url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|title=PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS|last=Bligh|first=Anna|author-link=Anna Bligh|date=10 June 2009|publisher=Queensland Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524033717/http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|archive-date=24 May 2017|access-date=24 May 2017}}

{{Portal bar|Sports|Australia}}

{{Reflist}}

• Freeman, Cathy (2007) Born to Run Melbourne, Penguin Books Australia. {{ISBN|9780143302384}}
• {{cite web | last=Hutcheon | first=Stephen | title=Tripping the flow: The clever physics hack behind Cathy Freeman's golden Olympic run | website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=12 September 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-12/cathy-freemans-golden-run/12637074}}
• McGregor, A. (1998) Cathy Freeman; A Journey Just Begun. Milsons Point, Random House Australia. {{ISBN|0-09-183649-2}}
• White, L. (2013) "Cathy Freeman and Australia's Indigenous Heritage: A New Beginning for an Old Nation at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games", International Journal of Heritage Studies, Vol. 19, Issue 2, pp 153–170 ({{ISSN|1352-7258}}).
• White, L. (2010) "Gender, Race and Nation at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games: Mediated Images of Ian Thorpe and Cathy Freeman". In L. K. Fuller (ed.) Sexual Sports Rhetoric: Global and Universal Contexts. New York: Peter Lang, pp 185–200 ({{ISBN|9781433105098}}).
• White, L. (2008) "One Athlete, One Nation, Two Flags: Cathy Freeman and Australia's Search for Aboriginal Reconciliation", Sporting Traditions, Vol. 25, Issue 2, pp 1–19 ({{ISSN|0813-2577}}).

{{Portal|Biography}}

{{Commons category|Cathy Freeman}}

• {{Sport Australia Hall of Fame}}
• {{Australian Olympic Committee}}
• {{Commonwealth Games Australia|cathy-freeman}}
• {{World Athletics}}
• {{Olympedia}}
• [https://estrellasports.com.au/portfolio/items/cathy-freeman/ Cathy Freeman] at Estrella Sports Management
• [https://www.cathyfreemanfoundation.org.au/ The Cathy Freeman Foundation] - supports Indigenous students to experience their full potential in school

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{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|USA}} Marion Jones}}

{{s-ttl|title=World Sportswoman of the Year|years=2001}}

{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|USA}} Jennifer Capriati}}

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{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|JPN}} Midori Ito}}

{{s-ttl|title=Final Olympic torchbearer|years=Sydney 2000}}

{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|USA}} 1980 USA Men's Ice Hockey Team}}

{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|USA}} Muhammad Ali}}

{{s-ttl|title=Final Summer Olympic torchbearer|years=Sydney 2000}}

{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|GRE}} Nikolaos Kaklamanakis}}

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{{Footer Olympic Champions 400 m Women}}

{{Footer World Champions 400 m Women}}

{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 200m Women}}

{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 400m Women}}

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Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Mackay, Queensland

Category:Athletes from Queensland

Category:Sportswomen from Queensland

Category:Australian female sprinters

Category:Olympic athletes for Australia

Category:Olympic gold medalists for Australia

Category:Olympic silver medalists for Australia

Category:Indigenous Australian Olympians

Category:Indigenous Australian track and field athletes

Category:Olympic cauldron lighters

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics

Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia

Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia

Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1990 Commonwealth Games

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1994 Commonwealth Games

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games

Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Australia

Category:World Athletics Championships medalists

Category:Australian of the Year Award winners

Category:Laureus World Sports Awards winners

Category:Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal

Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia

Category:Recipients of the Olympic Order

Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Australian people of Chinese descent

Category:Australian people of English descent

Category:Australian people of Syrian descent

Category:Sportspeople of Syrian descent

Category:Australian Bahá'ís

Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)

Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)

Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships medalists

Category:World Athletics Championships winners

Category:Olympic female sprinters

Category:Australian republicans

Category:Australian autobiographers

Category:Medallists at the 1990 Commonwealth Games

Category:Medallists at the 1994 Commonwealth Games

Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games

Category:Q150 Icons

Category:Australian Athletics Championships winners

Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen