Cathy Freeman
...d. In the post – race media conference, Freeman spoke from the heart. She said and I quote “Being Aboriginal means everything to me, I feel for my people all the time. A lot of my friends have the talent but lack the opportunity.” A week later Cathy arrived home three days later and was rejoicing with her family when they received the tragic news that her sister, Anne – Marie, had passed away. Their jovial mood was suddenly reduced to sorrow and mourning, and at the funeral, Cathy tearfully promised aloud that all her future runnings to her sister Anne – Marie. 1992 Olympic trials Cathy was nervous. She was keen and jumpy. She was in Adelaide in early March for the trials for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 400 meters was a few minutes away. Freeman was fired up. Cathy realistically didn’t think she had a chance of winning. She took the Olympic opportunity as a chance to enjoy herself. She mixed with celebrities like Boris and Charles and gazed around learning from the best. After competing in a 400 meter race in Sheffield, Cathy arrived back in London on a Sunday evening. Maurie, Cathy’s circuit agent, had just received news that her father passed away. Thus it was a sad return to London for the group. It was made even sadder when they received a message that Cathy’s father, Norman Freeman, had died from a stroke. Cathy took it badly. She was angry, weeping and distraught. Cathy could not get a flight to get home on time for her fathers funeral, something she largely regrets still today. Team Freeman decided to press on with their racing schedule, and after long days of travel, finally arrived in Australia. Cathy visited her father’s grave site with her family arrived back in Australia. Cathy visited her father’s grave believing he’s in a better place resting in “GODS” hands. On February 5, 1994, Cathy won two unbelievable races and beat a 100 meter personal best. Later on in the month at a race in Melbourne, crowd expectations were high. During the 100 meters, Cathy stumbled at the start and Gainsford absolutely blew her away. Cathy stormed off the track and had to force herself to remain at the stadium. 'I just got so angry with myself, I don't know what came over me but I nearly took off, I nearly left. I wasn't crying but I had tears of frustration.' There were several more encounters over the months, with Freeman and Gainsford both having their fair share of wins and sending the media into frenzy. 'Athletics Australia pumps it up because it brings crowds', says Cathy. She was annoyed when many of her media interviews inevitably revolved around this rivalry when in reality she had other priorities like the Commonwealth Games. Cathy arrived in Canada with her own Aboriginal Flag folded in her backpack. She would take it out and look at it occasionally and would get quite emotional. Bideau, Plant and Fortune studied the athletic fields and knew Cathy was a chance for a unique Games double, the 200m and 400m golds. In Centennial Stadium Cathy was about to run in the 400 meters. She entered her own mental glass capsule, aware of the crowd only as a mass of colour and noise. They remained in their starting order for the first 200 metres and on the second bend, Cathy noticeably accelerated. She skipped clear and ran into the straight three metres ahead. With thirty metres to go Cathy started to tire. Yasuf began closing the gap alarmingly and Cathy was slowing measurably. Cathy had run 50.38s, a new Games record. A member of Team Freeman handed Cathy the flag and Cathy ran 50 metres holding that flag, living the fulfilment of her dream. By the time Freeman finished her victory lap, news of her demonstration of Aboriginal identity was hitting world's newsrooms. At this point, Team Freeman had no idea of the media frenzy that would await them the next morning. Olympic torch relay ended its journey with Cathy Freeman lighting the Olympic cauldron. It was a closely guarded secret so to allay suspicions on the night; she marched with the Australian team. She then disappeared and ...