Cathy Freeman 1973–
Olympic Athlete
For Cathy Freeman, the 2000 Summer Olympics were a childhood dream come true. They were held in her home country of Australia. She was chosen to light the torch for the opening ceremonies in Sydney. And then, cheered on by a huge crowd, she won the gold medal in the women's 400-meter race. It was one of the happiest moments of her life.
Freeman, an Australian Aborigine, ran her first race when she was eight years old. She had terrific speed and soon developed into one of Australia's best sprinters. She began representing Australia at international competitions as a teenager. Freeman has won many gold and silver medals in addition to her Olympic medals. In 1998, she was named Australian of the Year.
Freeman has also been outspoken on behalf of Aborigines and their culture. Most runners take a victory lap after winning a race, waving their national flag aloft. Freeman often displays both the Aboriginal flag and the Australian flag. She does that, she says, to show “I am proud of who I am and where I come from. ”
Critical Thinking
Why do you think Freeman was chosen to light the torch at the 2000 Olympics?