Cathy freeman biography timeline

Upon her return to the track inFreeman did not lose a single m race, including at the World Championships. Freeman also lit the torch in the Olympic Games in Sydney. 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.

Throughout her career, Freeman regularly competed in the Victorian Athletic League where she won two m races at the Stawell Gift Carnival. Freeman announced her retirement in Since retiring from athletics Freeman has become involved in a range of community and charitable activities. Freeman was appointed as an Ambassador for Cottage by the Sea a children's holiday camp in Queenscliffe, Victoriaalongside celebrity chef Curtis Stone and big-wave surfer Jeff Rowley.

Freeman retired from her position as Patron after 10 years in In 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, [ 28 ] by offering incentives for children to attend school. Moreover, Freeman also has Syrian ancestry.

She also had an older sister, Anne-Marie, who was born in and died in Anne-Marie had cerebral palsy and spent much of her life in the Birribi care facility in Rockhampton. 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.

Freeman's parents divorced in[ 36 ] after which her cathy freeman biography timeline returned to Woorabinda. Freeman had a long-term romantic relationship with Nick Bideau, her manager, that ended in acrimony and legal wranglings over Freeman's endorsement earnings. 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 Their relationship ended in early On 10 OctoberFreeman was one of 25 Australians of the Year who signed an open letter supporting the Yes vote in the Indigenous Voice referenduminitiated by psychiatrist Patrick McGorry.

She joined with actress Deborah Mailman on a road tripa four-part television documentary series Going Bush where the pair set off on a journey from Broome to Arnhem Land spending time with Indigenous communities along the way. As a result of a 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.

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. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Aboriginal Australian athlete and Olympic gold medallist born For the British television producer, see Catherine Freeman television producer.

For the fictional character, see Kathy Freeman. Sandy Bodecker. James Murch. Medal record. Career [ edit ]. Prior to [ edit ]. Post-athletic career [ edit ]. Cathy Freeman Foundation [ edit ]. Personal life [ edit ]. Media [ edit ]. Competition record [ edit ]. International competitions [ edit ]. National championships [ edit ]. Circuit performances [ edit ].

A two-time Commonwealth champion, Cathy also won 14 national titles across the m, m and m. InCarrying the weight of the nation on her shoulders, Cathy was awarded the honour of lighting flame at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. At the Commonwealth Games, after winning the gold medal for the metres, she had worn both the Aboriginal and the Australian flags around her shoulders.

Some people criticised this as being too political. After winning Olympic gold in Sydney, Freeman did a victory lap in front of an ecstatic crowd ofOnce again, she carried both flags. She carefully picked them up at the same time, and tied their ends together, to show that they were equally important to her. Cathy Freeman was named Young Australian of the Year in Freeman retired from running in Since then she has focused on a number of charities and community groups — in particular, the Cathy Freeman Foundation, which provides education opportunities to Aboriginal children.

The National Museum of Australia acknowledges First Australians and recognises their continuous connection to Country, community and culture. Defining Moments Cathy Freeman. See our classroom resource. Cathy Freeman, Running for me is always more than just physical and mental; it is also emotional and spiritual. You can draw energy from the universe, the stars and the sun, everything around you.

Lighting the Olympic flame At all Olympics since a sacred flame has been kept alight for the duration of the Games.

Cathy freeman biography timeline

Carrying the Aboriginal flag Freeman was keenly aware of the many injustices done to Aboriginal people. Cathy Freeman was awarded with the Australian of the Year award in the year of Cathy won the gold medal in the m event at the World Athletic Championships, Seville, Spain, in the year of Cathy's image was beamed into millions of homes around the world when she became the first competing athlete to be invited to light the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games.

She then went on to the win the gold medal in the m event- her dream was realised. Jul 15,