Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman
Catherine Astrid Salome "Cathy" Freeman, OAMis an Australian former sprinter, who specialised in the 400 metres event. She would occasionally compete in other track events but 400m was her main event. Her personal best of 48.63 currently ranks her as the sixth fastest woman of all time, set while finishing second to Marie-Jose Perec's number three time at the 1996 Olympics. She became the Olympic champion for the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics, at which she lit the...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionRunner
Date of Birth16 February 1973
CountryAustralia
I'm so lucky. I have such a great support system. All I have to do is run.
I made my first Australian senior team when I was 16, first Olympics when I was 19, and I retired. I'm 32, I retired four years ago, so a good third of my life or nearly a third of my life has been all about running.
I was running since I was 10. Since grade one at school people looked at me and thought, oh gosh she can really run, she's a natural.
I have a friend who, if she has a bad hair day, it affects her whole mood because it is part of her sexuality, her confidence. I don't have that problem any more.
I want to keep my private life private.
The Athens Olympics will be meaningful even though I cannot participate as an athlete, since I can participate in the flame relay all over the world.
Money makes life easier but I don't want to be rich, not at all.
It is my second visit to Korea since the International Junior Athletic Championships in 1992. Both then and now, I felt Korea is an interesting country and the people are very kind.
My mind is pretty made up that life for Cathy Freeman will be as an unmarried woman from now on.
I'm drinking lots of herbal tea.
I don't agree with everything Madonna's done but she is fearless.
I'd like to see as many sports as I can because I have never had the chance to enjoy the other sports in the past.
I quite clearly have made the right decision in my heart, retirement was the way.
I like being in the workforce; it keeps me grounded.